The approach is distinctive in being systematically thematic and comparative and the author draws on current themes in political science literature to produce a book with cosiderable 'added value' over the run-of-the-mill textbook treatment. There are six parts and thirteen chapters covering: Scandinavia past and present; parties in developmental perspective; the Scandinavian party system model; the Nordic model of government; the Nordic welfare model; legislative-executive relations in the region; the changing security environment and the transition from Cold War 'security threats' to the 'security challenges' of today; and a concluding chapter looks at regional co-operation, Nordic involvement in the 'European project' and the Nordic states as 'moral superpowers'.

The book will be of interest not only to students of Scandinavia but to those wishing to view Scandinavian politics and policy-making in a wider comparative perspective.