The book questions the much vaunted thesis of Nordic homogeneity by launching a comparative re-examination of the institutional structures, political forces and public policies that characterise Sweden, Denmark and Norway separately and collectively as emblematically "Nordic". Broadening the focus by degrees, the book tests claims that "Nordic democracy" and "Nordic welfare state" are a special case, distinguishing them from wider European versions. Each of the 15 chapters compares a different aspect of Nordic and national politics, among them parties and party systems; voters and social cleavages; civic society; women in politics; local government and security policies. With bibliography and index.