Forum for utvikling and miljø, Finnish Development NGOs Fingo, and Globalt Fokus wanted to learn more about how people in Nordic countries view global solidarity.
Through the online survey platform Voxit, 186 respondents participated, casting over 5000 votes. The survey was composed of pre-determined statements. Participants could vote on whether they agreed or disagreed with each statement. If participants felt that the discussion was missing an essential perspective, they could add their own statement to the discussion. Participation was anonymous.
Common starting point
Just over half of the respondents work for one of the Nordic civil society platforms, and a large majority work in development cooperation. The proportion of youth respondents was so low that the findings cannot be said to be representational of their opinions.
Nevertheless, the results of the survey enable some reflection on priorities and challenges.
Overall, the exceptionally broad agreement on certain core messages was encouraging. Almost all respondents agreed that Nordic countries should advance global solidarity, and that they have a responsibility to contribute to global efforts to reduce poverty and inequality. Nearly as strong a consensus prevailed regarding the rights of future generations. Based on the responses, it appears there are no fundamental disagreements on values. Rather, differences emerge more in terms of how the current situation is seen and how much change is called for.
Differences of opinion
Three distinct respondent groups could be identified. The smallest and most heterogeneous group, including the largest number of respondents who do not speak a Nordic language as their mother tongue, can be described as critical realists. The largest number of respondents were strong supporters of multilateralism. A third group were distinguished as committed to structural change.
The groups were characterized for example by their views on the extent to which investment into Nordic solidarity should be prioritized. The critical realist respondent group felt that Nordic countries should put on hold ambitious goals of sustainability and equality until a more stable world order is restored. This group was similarly willing to accept national restrictions on civil society and civic freedoms in the name of ‘security’. Finally, respondents in this group more often feel that development cooperation mainly serves the interests of the donor countries.
The respondent group that most appeared to have faith in the Nordic development cooperation was largely composed of those working in the sector. Respondents in this group also felt that the Nordic countries have a particular responsibility to protect civic space domestically and internationally. Based on the responses, this group believes in the current system of multilateral development cooperation and the role of Nordic states in it.
The third and largest group of respondents on the other hand was the most critical of the current system of development cooperation. They highlighted Nordic hypocrisy and called for decolonial development more often than respondents from the other groups. Respondents were also committed to global solidarity which would see Nordic countries give up their economic advantages in the name of global justice. Such participants may want fundamental change, not just improvements to the system many of them work in.
What remains undecided
One issue that many participants did not give their views on was the relationship and funding arrangements between Nordic CSOs and Global Majority partners. It may be that participants wanted to avoid guessing how Nordic CSOs are viewed in other countries, this is an issue that is context dependent or that models reflecting alternatives are not widely available or known.
What next?
The discussion on Nordic global solidarity will continue and deepen. The survey allows us to build on a foundation of principles on which there is broad agreement. The process will allow us to approach more contentious issues with curiosity which stems from joint commitment to ensuring that Nordic countries do advance global solidarity.
The survey was completed as part of the project entitled “Nordic Voices for Global Solidarity”. The project, funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers’ funding programme Demos, will run until the end of June 2026.
