Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book emphasizes heritage as performance and, on the other, that stringing together or repeating such performances plays a role in shaping society and identity. It discusses the concepts of heritage and Norden, and performance and performativity, as vital for the making of history. Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Norway and Sweden are today called the Nordic countries, and Denmark, Norway and Sweden are called Scandinavia is a result of repeated performances a collective performative space. Nordic societies have long accentuated their peaceful history and efficient infrastructure, for both the home audience and the international community. In the last decade, however, darker aspects of the Nordic reality, such as rising support for right-wing neo-Nazi political parties, cutbacks in the welfare state and bribery have often featured in the international media.