A topical, comparative study of the economic, social and political development of Norway and Scotland since 1800
Northern Neighbours explores the reasons for, and outcomes of, the social, political and economic divergence between Scotland and Norway over a period encompassing 500 years, in an engaging and comprehensive way. This accessible comparative study takes a closer look at the links between suffrage, property ownership and the process of democratisation and distribution of political power, land use and reform, the relative movement of populations, the process of industrialization, and rights of access. It offers a thorough analysis of the history of religion, education and finance in both countries, and explores the exploitation of their rich natural resources, and the resulting contrast in their fortunes. The authors also pose timely questions about the future of both countries; whether the economic and social disparities between the two can be addressed, and if the Nordic model could provide a basis for a realistic and effective development strategy for Scotland, were it to become an independent nation.
Contributors
Arne Bugge Amundsen, University of Oslo
Eberhard ‘Paddy’ Bort, University of Edinburgh
Nik. Brandal, University of Oslo
Øivind Bratberg, University of Oslo
Ottar Brox, Norwegian Institute for Regional Research
John Bryden, Norwegian Agricultural Economics Research Institute in Oslo and Emeritus at the University of Aberdeen
Bronwen Cohen, University of Edinburgh
Keith Hart, London School of Economics
Agnar Hegrenes, Norwegian Agricultural Economics Research Institute
Mary Hilson, University College London
Andrew G. Newby, University of Helsinki
Erik Opsahl, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim
Tore T. Petersen, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim
Karen Refsgaard, University of Copenhagen and the University of Life Sciences at Ås, Norway
Lesley Riddoch, journalist, author and broadcaster
Wenche Rønning, University of Nordland
Michael Rosie, University of Edinburgh
John Bryden is a Political Economist. He is Emeritus Professor of Human Geography at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland and has worked as research professor with the Norwegian Agricultural Economics Research Institute since 2008. John has been a Government advisor, and was external advisor to the Scottish Land Reform Policy Group. He has been visiting scholar at the Universities of Guelph, Cornell, Missouri-Colombia, and Pretoria as well as at the Centre for Development Studies in Kerala, India, and at the University of Pretoria.
Ottar Brox is a former professor of sociology and planning at the University of Tromsø, and Senior Researcher, Norwegian Institute of Urban and Regional Research. He has published about 25 books, most of them in Norwegian, on community and regional development, rural industries and immigration. He has also served as a member of the Norwegian Parliament and the Oslo City Council.
Lesley Riddoch is one of Scotland’s best known commentators and broadcasters. She won two SONY awards for radio programmes with BBC Scotland, presented Radio 4’s You & Yours and BBC 2’s Midnight Hour. Lesley was assistant editor of The Scotsman and Contributing Editor of the Sunday Herald. She’s a regular Scotsman columnist, co-founder of the policy group Nordic Horizons and author of Blossom – What Scotland Needs to Flourish.
