With its annual Nordic media and culture summit as the hub, NORD 55° will forge the framework for a stronger Nordic consciousness by establishing a new infrastructure for discussion and a new debate culture across national borders.
For the first time, the Nordic countries now stand together in the same peace-keeping defence alliance. This is a historic situation for the Nordic countries. NORD 55° will exploit this geopolitical momentum to reinforce the infrastructure for free thought, free speech, artistic freedom and the critical debate. We have a lot in common in the Nordic countries, but we are also very different. This is a great strength. Therefore, NORD 55° will mobilise opinion, culture, civil society, governments and media. Now is the time to get to know each other’s opinion makers, bring problems to common debate, and break away from conventional thinking and national silos when reflecting on society’s most important issues. A more united Nordics with stronger civil cohesion is crucial to tackling the challenges and crises of the future.
Starting point
Now that Finland and Sweden have joined NATO, for the first time in 500 years, the Nordic countries are united in a military defence alliance. In response to this paradigm shift in security policy, NORD 55° will mobilise a cultural defence alliance. Armed with critical debate about the new political realities, NORD 55° will promote the Nordics as attractive collaboration partners at all levels. Experience from the Covid-19 pandemic shows that closing borders between the Nordic countries inappropriately and failing to cooperate exacerbated the crisis. A stronger Nordics with much stronger cohesion is crucial to tackling the challenges of the future.
In November 2021, Jan-Erik Enestam (former Finnish Minister for Defence) was behind the 12 recommendations to Nordic governments for Nordic collaboration in future crisis situations. Including: To maintain and strengthen Nordic identity, solidarity and confidence as a basis for a joint Nordic civil emergency response in the form of increased cooperation within culture, research, education and youth – as well as improved linguistic skills with the Scandinavian languages.
With its cultural aims, NORD 55° can play a productive role in ambitions for a more united Nordic region with a strong Nordic civil society and Nordic consciousness. Art, literature, science, culture and the media are central to achieving the general transition of our society. This transition is vital if the goal set by the Nordic Council of Ministers that the Nordic region is to become the world’s most sustainable and integrated region by 2030 is be realised.
⸻〇⸻ Copenhagen 2026
In the news
Executive Board of Advisors
NORD 55° has established a steering group of expertise from different places in the Nordic countries.