Nordic Horizons

Welcome to Nordic Horizons

Nordic Horizons is an informal group of Scottish professionals who want to raise the standard of knowledge and debate about life and policy in the Nordic nations. We’ve been holding public meetings in Edinburgh since 2010 so Nordic specialists can discuss how they do things with decision-makers, practitioners, MSPs, academics and the interested public  here. We produce a written summary of each meeting and nearly always have an audio recording of the main speaker(s). You can browse topics, content and voices here. And join our Facebook group to join live debate and discuss Nordic news as it happens.

 

Possible Orkney - Meeting Notes and Audio

This event was excellent and a packed audience, judging from Facebook and Twitter, enjoyed a lively debate of the ideas raised. Graham Hogg and Alex Hobday presented a vison of a 'Nordic Scotland' which was challenging and different. You can listen to the audio below and download a copy of their presentation as well. However, it is worth understanding the background to this presentation, which sounds more like a manifesto. Judge for yourself.

Slides and Audio of 'Excellent Elderly Care'

Following the presentation of Professor Marta Szebehey of Stockholm University, we have now posted both her slide presentation and audio recordings of the meeting. These material are all available for download here. Please feel free to pass this on to others who were notable to make this meeting.

Possible Orkney - the poster

Book now!

Change of venue - Possible Orkney

Mike Mackenzie MSP has kindly offered to host this meeting in the Scottish Parliament, Committee Room 3. The timing and date of this meeting are unchanged - 1 May 2013 at 6pm - it is simply the venue that has been altered. More details of how to book tickets will appear here and on our Facebook page.

Excellent Elderly Care - Poster

April 16th - Book now!

Excellent Elderly Care - New Meeting Announced

Excellent Elderly Care - How does Sweden do it ?

Joint meeting between Nordic Horizons and the Cross Party Group on Elderly and Ageing

Hosted by Sandra White MSP

Speaker - Professor Marta Szebehely, Stockholm University

Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, Committee Room 2, Tuesday April 16th , 6-8pm. Post-event drinks at Hemma, Holyrood Road

Possible Orkney - Nordic Scotland - Up Coming Event !

Nordic Scotland - Graham Hogg and Alex Hobday

Hemma Bar  - 6pm May 1st 2013

Possible Orkney

Orkney sits at a strategic location within the Northern Periphery - a gateway for the Nordic region within a global context. Possible Orkney is a large group of projects at varying scales looking at how to integrate Scotland into this Nordic region through its exploitation of the shipping, renewable and tourist industries. The presentation will include the research and reasoning for Nordic Scotland's proposals on Orkney followed by the presentation of the architectural interventions planned and a manifesto for a future Orkney, and Scotland, and their integration into the Nordic region.

Beyond NATO - meeting notes and thanks

More Sandy Miller photos on NH Facebook

The meeting audio is now available. If you weren't there, Professor Iver Neuman and Anne Palm were very good at making the subject matter come alive. Sandy Miller's photos alone will make you want to join our Facebook group . Special thanks to Mona Røhne of the Royal Norwegian Consulate for her hospitality and support.

'Beyond NATO' poster

Please print and display responsibly

Next Meeting - 'Beyond NATO' - March 4

Norway is a member of NATO, Finland is not. Does that single fact produce radically different thinking about peace and security in the two nations? Or does more unite the Nordic neighbours who are both members of the Arctic Council and other alliances, both reject nuclear weapons in their waters, share outlooks on neutrality and the importance of non-military peaceful activity?

How did the experience of World War shape the outlook of these two countries in the sphere of international relations and what is the right size for their defence forces?

Defence policy in an independent Scotland was a controversial and divisive issue during 2012. Can the defence strategies of Nordic nations usefully inform both Scottish and UK debate?

And how does the international relations community regard the possibility of an independent Scotland in the context of security?

Anne Palm runs Finland’s Civil society conflict prevention network (KATU) and Iver Neuman is Professor of International Relations at London School of Economics and was senior adviser to the Norwegian Foreign Ministry. Chaired by Lesley Riddoch, writer and broadcaster.

Ticket details here.