Cultural sociology in Scandinavia

Tora Holmberg

Anna Lund

Asa Wettergren

pp. 231-252

in: Stephan Moebius, Frithjof Nungesser, Katharina Scherke (eds), Handbuch Kultursoziologie 1, Berlin, Springer, 2019

Abstract

In this chapter, we emphasize the diversity and complexity of cultural sociology in Scandinavia. We begin with brief "entries' that narrate our own encounters with cultural sociology and illustrate the multiplicity of theories, methods, and areas of research. We then briefly sketch accounts of cultural sociology in Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway and Denmark), highlighting the main debates and issues. Institutional contexts and cultural politics influence the conditions for, and emergence of, cultural sociologists. Our accounts of the three countries are not comprehensive and do not do full justice to their particular national research traditions. Our aim is to highlight bits and pieces that appear to be characteristic of each country. Together, these aspects construct a mosaic of traditions and new trends that we find represented in all three countries. In the conclusion, we sum up and broaden the scope to place Scandinavian cultural sociology in an international context.