Culture and Conflict

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Cultural differences often trigger conflict, whether politically motivated or stemming from differing national cultural understandings. The distinctive elements of our cultural heritage today are deeply rooted in the diverse national currents of the nineteenth century. This volume examines the various strands of Danish and Scandinavian culture that shaped these identities. Sixteen contributions analyze how competing national agendas influenced political life, literature, visual arts, and music. A central theme is the cultural conflicts integral to nineteenth-century nation-building. Boundaries were drawn, ideologies debated, and efforts made to suppress divergent cultural voices in the pursuit of strong national narratives. These conflicts led to enduring cultural struggles and culture wars, which are the focus of this work. Scholars from Denmark, Britain, Norway, the United States, and Germany provide a broad, interdisciplinary perspective on these Nordic themes. Aimed at both students and established scholars, the chapters explore nationalism, its cultures, and countercultures while revisiting the historiography of the 1800-1930 period with a pluralistic approach.