Why the Nordic / Swedish model is an excellent framework for local development.
Prof. Deon Pretorius
Background
In a recent meeting in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), NMBM, South Africa between ICLD Board Members and the NMBM members of a Gothenburg/NMBM partnership project, there was a discussion about the merits and benefits of extending the relationship between Gothenburg and the NMBM into a next stage.
An ICLD Board Member asked the obvious and justified question: What is in it for Gothenburg? The answers emanating from the meeting were along the lines of the benefits of mutual learning and more specifically that the Swedish counterparts have something to learn from the South African experience.
As much as there are good reasons to agree with such answers there is also a view that the South Africans can learn more from the Swedes than the other way around. In particular, the South Africans have much to learn from the Swedish / Nordic Model given the ongoing challenges faces by South Africa.
One must not be naïve and idealistic about any societal model, including the Nordic/Swedish Model. The literature reveals that it emerged over time from history of contestation; it was not an easy ride. At times and in some ways, it was implemented in was that was not always congruent with the general progressive essence of the Model. Nevertheless, the Nordic/ Swedish Model remained intact as a consensual canopy that defined the essence of Nordic exceptionalism for decades. It is only in recent years that it has been under pressure of conservative bush-back in recent years.
Taken this into account the Nordic/Swedish Model is still a better basis for progressive societal development than free market capitalism or state socialism. It cannot be dismissed that according to almost all relevant indicators and criteria, the Nordic/Swedish Model is the most successful model in history for societal development and for securing equity, inclusion, productivity, efficiency, and an excellent quality of life.
Learning from each other.
Emphasising what the South Africans can learn from the Swedes is not the answer that the ICLD Board Member was looking for. Thus, we want to propose that there is actually a good answer to his question; one by which South Africans and Swedes will learn and benefit from each other. How does one achieve that?
A project is proposed in which the best that the theory and practice of the Swedish/Nordic Model have to offer is identified, analysed, and unpacked. The insights derived from this process will be used by including its relevant essential features into a generic local development strategy / approach.
Considering the ‘modest imperfections’ of the Model in reality, the aim would be to rise above these limitations by combining the empirical reality and a broader reflection on progressive sustainable development. A model is, after-all, not a mirror image of empirical reality but rather an abstraction based on something that was called an “ideal-type” by the German Sociologist, Max Weber. It all depends on what one wants to use it for, but an ideal type is formed from characteristics and elements of the given phenomena, but it is not meant to correspond to all of the characteristics of any one particular case.
In this instance it will be used for the purposes of addressing challenges and problems of ideological polarization, excessive political contestation, inequality, low productivity, low efficiency, and overcoming the problem of exclusive quality of life in many parts of the world. The South African dilemmas and challenges can be used for the purposes of learning and experimentation due to its relevance in this regard and the Sundays River Valley, Mogale City, NMBM and Stellenbosch can serve as case studies
What are we hoping to achieve?
- A post-binary / post adversarial development approach that is based on pragmatism and local contextualisation instead of ideological exclusivity
- A framework for party-political partnership for local development; political parties collaborating on a local level in pursuit of common development goals
- A framework for multi-sectoral co-responsible local governance
- An approach, strategy, and toolkit to guide collaborative local development
Who will benefit and how?
Firstly, the South Africans will benefit more if the Swedes are less modest and more assertive in talking about and even propagating their Model. South Africans would benefit immensely if the Model presented in a form that enables local contextualisation.
To be specific there is much to be gained from reflection on the Nordic/Swedish Model in the ICLD programmes; material and tools that that explicitly focus on the strengths and qualities of the Swedish/Nordic Model. Currently there is no such content.
Secondly, many communities and societies in other parts of the world could benefit if the Nordic/Swedish Model is analysed and packaged and presented in a way that makes it possible to apply its major features in diverse local contexts. It is not an overstatement that the world needs a Swedish/Nordic Model to overcome the stale and sterile ideological contest between Capitalism and Socialism and to find alternatives to adversarial political contestation as a means of solving societal social and economic problems and challenges.
Finally, and this should answer the Board Member’s question more specifically, the Swedes will benefit because focussing on the Swedish/Nordic Model could make the Swedes more appreciative of the Model and it could lead to more and better application of the Model in relation to the challenges and dilemmas being faced in contemporary Sweden.
The reality is that the Model and its defining features are being challenged over in recent years in Sweden. There is conservative pushback on the original / traditional / historical progressive model which is what made the Nordic / Swedish countries what they are.
Instead of retreating or being overly modest this is a time for the Swedes to be proud of what they have been doing since the early 20th century and, the main benefit is that they could gain from working with others to refine and reassert the original progressive thrust of the Nordic/Swedish Model and share their Swedish/Nordic exceptionalism with those who need it but in a form and shape that makes is more relevant, accessible and implementable in diverse contexts.
So what is the proposal?
- Desktop research to analyse the original and more recent variants / modifications of the N/S Model with the intention of extracting / identifying its defining / relevant features.
- Consider these features for the purposes of informing local development projects and programmes like the ICLD programmes.
- Produce a package of development tools that can be adapted for implementation in local contexts.
- Implement, test, monitor and evaluate the impact in selected case studies for the purposes of assessing impact