Scandinavia (Iceland/Ísland, Denmark/Danmark, Norway/Norge, Sweden/Sverige, Finland/Suomi)

Abstract

The Scandinavian countries¹ are alike in geopolitics (they occupy the most northerly part of the continent of Europe and have a common political history). Their majority populations have a common ethnicity and similar languages, but there are minority Eskimo, and Lapp (Sami) populations, which display nationalism. One estimate of the Sami population puts them at around 50 000, with 30 000 in Norway, 15 000 in Sweden, 5000 in Finland, and 2000 in Russia.² Another estimate (2000), however, puts the numbers higher: 105 000 in Europe, of which: 70 000 in Norway, 22 000 in Sweden, 8000 in Finland and 3000 in Russia.³ The Eskimos in Greenland engage in electoral politics, but the Sami do not. Nevertheless, the latter are extremely active in politics generally, and in 1988 demanded the creation of a Sami parliament. In 1992 the Sami language was given equal status with Norwegian in Norway, but when Sweden and Finland entered the European Union (EU) in 1995 the Sami leaders demanded that the Sami people enter the EU as a separate people.⁴