What role will the Nordic Welfare Model play in globalization?

The conference is part of the programme for the Finnish Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers 2011, and is arranged by the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (MSH), the Nordic Centre for Welfare and Social Issues (NVC), and the National Institute for Health and Welfare in Finland (THL).

The conference has several objectives. The first one is to elucidate how the Nordic Model can contribute to international welfare strategies and specify its important strength in the social political areas. The second main objective is to clarify the contents within the Nordic and international welfare programs, discuss their consequences and strengthen the Nordic and international processes in relation to social security and welfare. It is important to point out the challenges and alternatives for the future. The global, demographic, social and financial changes constitute a strong pressure on the welfare systems and the ways the Nordic welfare states act in a global context.

Time: 5-6 April 2011

Place: Hotel Presidentti, Helsinki

Language: English

Price: The conference is free of charge

Registration: http://www.nordicwelfare.org/?id=120693

Conference webpage: http://www.nordicwelfare.org/?id=120698

PRELIMINARY PROGRAMME:

5 APRIL 2011: Globalization and Welfare Policies

11-13 Registration

Coffee and light snacks

12.45 Music

13.00 Welcome and Introduction

Kari Välimäki, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

Tone Mørk, Director, Nordic Centre for Welfare and Social Issues

Moderator: Liisa-Maria Voipio-Pulkki, Director, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

13.30 Human Rights and Social Cohesion

Gilda Farrell, Head of Social Cohesion Development and Research Division, Council of Europe

14.15 Coffee

14.45 Beyond Nordic Nostalgia: Envisaging a Social or Democratic System of Global Governance

Heikki Patomäki, Professor, University of Helsinki

15.30 How to secure security in a challenging future?

Johannes Jutting, Head of Unit, OECD

16.15 Challenges for the Nordic Welfare Model in a Global World

Joakim Palme, Director, Institute for Futures Studies, Stockholm

17.00 End of day

19.00 Dinner

6 APRIL 2011: How can the Nordic model and the Nordic countries contribute to international strategies?

9.00 Nordic Welfare - a Model to Brand and Promote

Jan Vapaavuori, Finnish Minister for Nordic Co-operation

Moderator: Liisa-Maria Voipio-Pulkki, Director, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

9.30 The UN initiative for a Global Social Floor

Timo Voipio, Senior Adviser for Global Social Policy, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

10.15 Coffee

10.45 Can Organizing Welfare in the Nordic Way Inspire the World?

Torben Andersen, professor, University of Aarhus

11.30 Citizens Support for the Nordic Welfare Model

Helena Blomberg-Kroll, professor, University of Helsinki

12.15 Lunch

13.15 Workshops 1-5 with Coffee

WS 1: The strength of the Nordic Welfare Model in times of Global and Financial Crises

Moderator: Kirsi-Marja Lehtelä, Planning Officer, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland

Bjørn Hvinden, Professor, NOVA, Norway

WS 2: The Nordic Welfare Societies in a European Context

Moderator: Anne Eriksson, Ministrial Adviser, MSH, Finland

Susan Kuivalainen, Senior Research Fellow, University of Turku

WS 3: Challenges for Nordic Welfare Policies in Global Context

Moderator: Ralf Ekebom, MSH Finland

Bent Greve, Professor, University of Roskilde, Denmark

WS 4: Matching Work and Family – Challenging the Welfare System

Moderator: Ingi Valur Johansson, Ministry of Social and Health Affairs, Iceland

Minna Salmi, Research Manager, National Institute for Health and Welfare

WS 5: Equal opportunities for all

Moderator: Maarit Aalto, Project Manager, Nordic Centre for Welfare and Social Issues

14.45 How to secure social stability in a changing world? Global and European viewpoints

Bruno Palier, Ass. Research Prof, CNRS, France

15.30 Conclusions

16.00 End of the Conference