Trust and legitimacy of the Nordic welfare states
22 –23 October 2025, Finland, University of Helsinki
This workshop focuses on the foundations of the Nordic welfare states, the trust and legitimacy of the Nordic welfare states, and how current local and global challenges – including migration, the digital and green transformation, and the changing political geopolitical situation – impact them. Is it still possible to recognise the Nordic welfare states and the common characteristics for them? What is the role of citizens, civil society organisations and social movements, businesses, societal partners and the state in redefining welfare states? Further, how do these actors influence the trust, legitimacy, and functioning of the (new) Nordic welfare states?
Key topics discussed during the workshop include (but are not limited to):
- Trust and democracy in the welfare state
- Changing welfare state systems, industrial relations and actor constellation
- Sustainable welfare and welfare states
- Digitalisation and datafication of welfare states
We welcome both theoretical and empirical contributions drawing on qualitative and/or quantitative evidence from Nordic countries and beyond. We encourage comparative country analyses, also beyond Nordic countries, but we are also interested in studies focusing on a single country, region, or sector.
Please note that the workshop follows the “Korpi rule”. The full papers will be submitted and circulated prior to the meeting. The paper will be presented by an appointed discussant, not by the author of the paper. It also expects whole group to engage in a general discussion of the paper, so participants must come prepared.
Please send an abstract of up to 500 words by 1st June. We will respond to you by 16 June. The final version of your paper to be discussed at the workshop is expected by 1 October. We welcome papers or chapters at all stages of your PhD or post-doc. All correspondences should be addressed to niko.s.eskelinen@utu.fi
All lunches and one dinner will be provided but travel and accommodation are at your own expense.
The workshop will:
*Provide doctoral students and early career researchers with an opportunity to present their current work and to receive constructive feedback from an international panel of professors and peer-doctoral-students and early career researchers.
*Develop a supportive network of PhD and early career researchers with an interest in Nordic welfare research.
*Provide you with eligibility for the ESPAnet early career https://espanet.org/doctoral-researcher-prize/
PRELIMINARY PROGRAMME
Location: University of Helsinki, Main Building, Unioninkatu 34,
Wednesday 22 October
9:30 Welcome and round of introduction
10:00 – 11:00 Keynote 1 TBC
11:00-12.45 Parallel paper sessions I
13-14 LUNCH
14:00-15:45 Parallel paper sessions II
16-17 Keynote: “Trust in the age of algorithms”, Prof Minna Ruckenstein (University of Helsinki, REPAIR project)
18:00 DINNER
23 October
8:30-9 Morning coffee, University of Helsinki, Main building
9- 10:45 Parallel paper sessions III
10.45 WRAP UP, University of Helsinki, Main building
11-12 Lunch and registration to Social Policy conference
Participants can participate for free from 12:00 onwards in the Annual Finnish social policy conference, taking place in the same building, including the main speakers Jon Kvist (Thursday 23.10) and Femke Roosma (Friday 24.10). For more information, see https://www.helsinki.fi/en/conferences/social-policy-conference-2025
Local organizing committee: Professor Minna van Gerven (University of Helsinki), Associate Professor Mia Tammelin (Tampere University), Research Manager Paula Saikkonen (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare).
Nordic ESPAnet board: Professor Jonas Edlund (Umeå University), Professor Guðný Björk Eydal (University of Iceland), Professor Minna van Gerven (University of Helsinki), Research Professor Anne Skevik Grødem (Institute for Social Research), Professor Rune Halvorsen (Oslo Metropolitan University), Professor Jon Kvist (Roskilde University),Professor Janine Leschke (Copenhagen Business School), Professor Thomas Lorentzen (University of Bergen), Professor Kenneth Nelson (University of Oxford), Professor Caroline de la Porte (Copenhagen Business School), Research Manager Paula Saikkonen (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare), Research Professor Mi Ah Schoyen, Associate Professor Kolbeinn Hólmar Stefánsson (University of Iceland) & Associate professor Mia Tammelin (University of Tampere). Board secretary Niko Eskelinen (University of Turku)