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Chapter 3. To see and be seen : Gynaeopticism and platform surveillance in influencer marketing
No full textThe focal point of this chapter is surveillance practices in relation to social media influencers and digital marketing. The aim is to examine how the idea of surveillance can be expanded to include both social and technological aspects that work at individual, peer, and top-down levels. Drawing on examples from the Swedish influencer industry, we discuss and problematise how surveillance can be understood in such a context and how different dimensions of surveillance are manifested, exploited, and contested. The chapter concludes that participatory and gendered peer- and self-surveillance are an inherent part of influencer culture, and that the commercial success of influencers depends upon these practices. Similarly, platform surveillance and data mining connected to digital advertising can be understood as part of a contemporary commercialised surveillance culture that is closely related to both digital technology and the political economy of the influencer industry.
Chapter 12. The role of journalism in a time of national crisis : Examining criticism and consensus in Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden during the Covid-19 pandemic
No full textThe aim of this chapter is to examine the conditions for the practice of critical journalism in Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden, during the Covid-19 pandemic. We focus on two aspects, one practical and one discursive. First, we focus on journalists’ access to relevant information about the pandemic, as access plays a key role in the practice of critical reporting. Second, we focus on metajournalistic discourse, understood as how public debate about journalism shapes the practice of journalism. We found that information access was challenged in all three countries, but in different ways. We also found elements of a metajournalistic discourse. In Denmark, this discourse expressed concern about journalism being too critical, while in Sweden and Iceland, the concern was more a lack of critical reporting. We argue that the differences found can best be explained by the different Covid-19 communication strategies in the three countries
The role of lifelong learning for inclusion in the digital transformation : Work life of tomorrow
No full textIn the period 2021–2022, the NVL Digital – Working Life network has had a focus on digitalisation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and an interest in how new digital competences come to emerge in the manufacturing industries, with a focus on the skilled and unskilled employee. With this report's findings and recommendations for policy and practice, the network contributes to improving Nordic companies' participation in digital transformation. The project explores the ways in which digitalisation is unfolding and organising working life, and how new learning practices can meet new opportunities and challenges. The project is conducted as design-based research. This means that the project has generated a knowledge contribution in the form of recommendations and that the project has designed a solution in the form of a mock-up for a dialogue tool described in the report. Furthermore, design-based research implies that the project is collaborative and that stakeholders related to SMEs in the manufacturing industry – i.e. employees, managers, and representatives of organisations through networks and reference groups – have been involved in and contributed to the different phases of the project. Finally, design-based research involves developing and testing a design proposal to contribute to solutions for – in this case – the development of digital competences related to digital transformation. The main finding of the research project is that any digital transformation process shapes and is shaped by the concrete organisational practices of which it is a part.This means that the transformation is influenced by many factors that unfold empirically. In the present project, this unfolds in the form of identified paradoxes, particular narratives and changing understandings of hierarchy, among other things. Furthermore, another of the research project's findings is that digital technologies are just one of several actors helping to reorganise work and change the role and thus the professional identity of individual employees. Therefore, learning initiatives cannot only prioritise digital upskilling in digital competence development but must also involve professional experiences and insights possessed by the individual employee as a resource in the transformation. In this way, the project also contributes to pushing the boundaries of what it means to develop competences in digital transformation. Thus, competence development is also about how to get employees more involved in development and about the implications on, for example, professional identity, forms of collaboration, etc. The dialogue tool developed by the project team will therefore contribute enabling enterprises to better understand some of these local implications of digital transformation and, on this basis, develop strategies for ongoing development of digital competences. This potentially creates a breeding ground for more innovation and growth, as well as creating more opportunities for participation that can have a beneficial impact on employee well-being. Below are five recommendations that are the result of the research and developed through collaboration and dialogue with the NVL Digital – Working Life network during 2022. The five recommendations are presented in an order that addresses a policy and/or practice level, respectively. The first two recommendations address a policy and practice level pointing to the framework for companies' digital transformation. The remaining three recommendations point to concrete actions that can be taken in practic
Alpha-chloralose poisoning in cats : Nordic Report highlights the risk of poisoning to non-target species
No full textThis report provides results from studies of Alphachloralosis poisoning in cats in three Nordic countries. A publication by Windahl et al. (2022) is the main scientific foundation to the report. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of secondary AC poisoning in cats from consuming poisoned mice, and to study metabolism and excretion of AC in cats. Findings in studies highlighted in the report showed that secondary poisoning of cats from ingestion of mice is possible and highlights the risk of AC poisoning to non-target species. Observations of wild mice revealed that they can consume significantly more AC-containing bait than earlier presumed.
Working with Nature-Based Solutions : Synthesis and mapping of status in the Nordics
No full textNature-based solutions (NBS) are ways to tackle climate change while at the same time strengthening biodiversity and delivering ecosystem services to humans. The Nordic region aims to become the most sustainable in the world by 2030. That is why The Nordic Council of Ministers launched a research programme running from 2021-24, encouraging the Nordic countries to work together and enhance the knowledge base on nature-based solutions, restoration, climate mitigation and blue-green infrastructure. S-ITUATION is the first of five projects under this programme. The project report aims to synthesize and present existing research on NBS relevant in the Nordic context, including relevant projects and experiences, policies, knowledge gaps and cost-benefit analyses
Mitigating a social conflict between seal, conservation and fisheries in the Baltic Sea: : multilevel and synergistic approaches
No full textThe concept of ‘seal-fishery conflict’ is used when referring to the complex contradictions stemming from seals’ impacts on fishing livelihoods, a pertinent social struggle between stakeholder groups of the Baltic Sea. Tensions are most remarkable between coastal fisheries and seal conservationists. As existing knowledge has been scattered and the conflict has become increasingly problematic, the RESOCO project compiled Nordic knowledge and best practices and build an interdisciplinary synthesis to set the stage for alternative solutions on how to effectively reconcile the seal-fishery conflict in the Baltic Sea. The report takes a pragmatic stand by turning the attention to approaches and instruments that have been suggested to be helpful or that have the potential to help mitigate the conflict. The report synthesizes knowledge and presents existing gaps and needs of further research
Cross-border transport infrastructure planning in the Nordic Region : An introduction
No full textThis report aims to increase knowledge of cross-border transport infrastructure planning in the Nordic Region. The project covers four Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden) and explores institutional and other challenges and opportunities associated with better and more coordinated cross-border transport infrastructure planning. The publication gives an overview of the transport infrastructure planning systems in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, with a focus on the policy goals, the main actors and their responsibilities within the transport infrastructure planning system, central elements of the planning process, analytical tools and tools for impact analysis
International Strategy of the Nordic Council : Adopted at the Nordic Council Theme Session in Reykjavik, 15 March 2023
No full textThis strategy builds on the first International Strategy of the Nordic Council (2018-2022). The strategy defines the Council’s strategic and long-term objectives in the international field. The strategy objectives steer the Nordic Council’s international activities. The Nordic Council works closely with a number of international, regional, and national parliamentary organisations. The strategy also includes objectives and recommendations for the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Nordic governments. Ultimate responsibility for the Nordic Council’s international collaboration and matters concerning foreign, security, and defence policy lies with the Presidium
Nordic added value in Nordic research co-operation : Concept and practice
No full textThis report examines the concept of Nordic added value in Nordic research co-operation that is facilitated and funded by NordForsk under the Nordic Council of Ministers. Nordic added value is the key guiding principle of Nordic research co-operation from the implementation of research programmes to the evaluation of funding applications and monitoring of research impact. The report aims to enhance the understanding and operationalisation of the concept by examining it from both conceptual and practical perspectives
In all fairness: perceptions of climate policies and the green transition in the Nordic Region
No full textThe survey presented in this report reveals that Nordic citizens are concerned about climate change. Many people are willing to increase efforts to fight climate change, even if this entails a personal contribution in terms of higher taxes or behavioural change. The survey shows that different social groups perceive the impacts of climate change and climate mitigation policies in different ways. In general, attitudes towards climate policies and perceptions regarding their fairness are conditioned by socio-demographic factors such as gender, age, employment status, type of housing and transport behaviour. General attitudes towards climate change and climate policies The first part of this report explores general attitudes towards climate change and climate policies. This section shows that seven in ten (71%) respondents think that climate change is a serious or very serious problem, particularly among the youngest age group (18-29 years). Three in four (74%) interviewed persons in this group share this view. Those with a university degree are more concerned about climate change (83%) than those with primary or secondary education (57% and 62%, respectively). Approximately half (48-51%) of respondents in all age groups agree that more financial resources should be invested in preventing climate change, even if this would imply an increase in taxes. The survey results show that women in the Nordic Region are more concerned about climate change than men (79% compared to 64%). It also reveals that people living in urban areas are more worried about climate change (82%) than those who live in towns and suburbs (68%) or in rural areas (62%). Urban dwellers are also more positive about investing more resources in preventing climate change (59%) than those who live in rural areas (39%) and in towns and suburbs (46%). More than half of the respondents (52%) agree that taking further action on climate change would be beneficial for the economy. Students, unemployed and retired people are more likely to agree with this view (55%, 57% and 55%, respectively) than those currently in employment, including the self-employed (50%). Those employed in carbon-intensive sectors are less positive about the expected economic impact of climate policies than those who work in other economic sectors (41% compared to 55%). They are also more concerned about the risk of job losses during the transition to a low-carbon economy than those employed in sectors with lower carbon intensity (37% compared to 24%). Concerns about this issue are also higher among those who live in rural areas (31%) or towns and suburbs (30%) compared to those who live in cities (22%). Present and future effects of climate change mitigation policies on individuals and households The central part of the survey explores perceptions regarding the present and future impacts of climate policies. Such challenges are perceived differently depending on specific sociodemographic conditions. Nearly one fourth (23%) of respondents state that high energy costs mean they are struggling to keep their homes at a comfortable temperature. Those living in houses report being more impacted (27%) than those living in apartments (18%), and those using fossil fuels to heat their homes are most affected (44%). The risk of energy poverty is also higher among non-EU immigrants to the Nordic Region. Those who say they are struggling to keep their homes at a comfortable temperature range from 23% among Nordic-born citizens to 37% among non-EU immigrants. Nearly three in ten respondents (28%) have modified their transportation behaviour during the last year due to high fuel costs. This proportion is substantially greater among those living in towns and suburbs (32%) compared to those who live in rural areas (29%) or cities (23%). The majority of the Nordic population (52%) states that current climate policies have a neutral effect on their household economies. However, 28% of respondents say they are negatively impacted by climate policies in economic terms. Men report being negatively affected more frequently than women (33% vs 22%, respectively). People who live in houses are more likely to claim they are being negatively impacted than people who live in apartments (31% and 23%, respectively). Nearly half (45%) of the respondents in the Nordic Region agree that climate initiatives will improve health and well-being, and half of the respondents (50%) think that climate change initiatives will lead to more sustainable lifestyles in their area. However, half (51%) of the Nordic population expect to see increases in prices and the cost of living as a consequence of climate policies, and those who believe that climate policies will create jobs and improve working conditions in the areas where they live (31% and 24%, respectively) are outnumbered by those who believe the opposite (35% and 34%, respectively). Fairness of climate policies The last section of the report looks at how the Nordic people perceive the fairness of climate policies in distributional terms. In the survey, the respondents were asked to judge to what extent they agree or disagree that everyone in their country or territory is equally affected by initiatives to fight climate change regardless of personal earnings, gender, age, country of origin and where they live – cities or rural areas. The results show that the Nordic people believe climate change 88 initiatives affect citizens in different ways depending on their demographic, socioeconomic and territorial backgrounds. More than half of the respondents (56%) disagree that everyone is equally affected by initiatives to fight climate change regardless of earnings. Only 22% agree with this statement. Younger age groups are more pessimistic than older age groups on this point (66% in the 18-29 age group compared to 41% in the 65+ group). Almost half of respondents (48%) agree that climate policies are fair from a gender perspective, while 25% disagree with this statement and 23% are neutral. Roughly one in three (30%) respondents in the Nordic Region agree that people are equally affected by climate change initiatives regardless of age, 41% disagree with this statement and 25% are neutral. More than one third (35%) of the Nordic population agree that everyone is equally affected by initiatives to fight climate change regardless of the country of origin, while 34% of them disagree. More than half of respondents (56%) think that the impact of climate initiatives differs between rural and urban areas, while only 22% think that all areas are equally affected. Respondents who live in cities are more likely to respond that climate policy impacts differ between rural and urban areas (60%) than respondents who live in rural areas (55%) and towns and suburbs (53%). One third (33%) of respondents in the survey think that the Sámi population is affected by climate change initiatives to the same extent as the rest of the population. In Greenland, a majority of the population (62%) agrees that the indigenous population in Greenland is equally affected by measures to combat climate change