Janteloven: a controversial Scandinavian view of justice

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The suppression of individuality lies behind the external well-being of the Scandinavian countries. But is it really that bad?

The countries of Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden and Denmark), as well as Iceland and Finland, which are often ranked among them, traditionally occupy high positions in the ratings of living standards. For example, people inhabiting Northern Europe are considered one of the happiest and fairest Rahim Z. Norway Is Happiest Country in the World. What’s the Secret? Time in the world, while remaining very effective workers. Also, these countries are among the top states that have practically defeated gender inequality.

One of the reasons for such success is the unique Scandinavian worldview, in particular, the concept of Janteloven - “Jante's law”.

What is Jante's law and how did it come about

The Jante Law (Janteloven in Danish and Norwegian) is a set of rules that largely characterizes the worldview of not only Danes and Norwegians, but all Scandinavians in general. The most widespread amber is widespread in Norway, but its principles are also typical for other northern countries. They have their own names for the Jante Law: Jantelagen in Swedish, Jante laki in Finnish and Jantelögin in Icelandic.

The main principle of amber is that society as a whole is more important than the interests and ambitions of its individual member. According to this concept, collective achievements and well-being are primary, while individual achievements are secondary and even blameworthy.

The "law of Jante" traces the worldview of a small community, with wariness and even disapproval of personal success and the expression of individuality.

It is this phenomenon that is often explained by the egalitarian (built on the principles of universal equality) nature of the political and social culture of the Scandinavian countries.

Axel Sandemuse and the 10 rules of Janteloven

For the first time, the concept of amber was Aksel Sandemose. Britannica is formulated in the 1933 novel The Fugitive Crosses His Trail by the Danish-Norwegian writer Axel Sandemuse. This work has not been translated into Russian.

Sandemuse has documented Danish-Norwegian character traits from his childhood and adolescence. The author in a satirical manner described the events in the fictional city of Jant, copied from his native Nykobing-Morse.

The inhabitants of Jante, mostly workers, live according to an unwritten set of rules, for non-observance of which a person is subject to public censure:

1. Don't think you're special.
2. Do not think that you are the same as we are.
3. Do not think that you are smarter than us.
4. Do not imagine that you are better than us.
5. Do not think that you know more than we do.
6. Do not think that you are more important than us.
7. Don't think you're good at everything.
8. Don't laugh at us.
9. Don't think that everyone cares about you.
10. Don't think that you can teach us anything.

There is also an eleventh rule that is commonly used to respond to criticism from Janteloven:

Perhaps you think there is something we don’t know about you

These rules clearly show the opposition of “we” and “you”, in which “we” means the whole of society.

Sluggishness, ignorance, and herd instinct are the main ingredients of the Jante Law, according to Sandemuse.

The writer himself condemned Aksel Sandemose. Britannica's conventions and limitations inherent in small Scandinavian settlements did not at all consider the Ambergris to be anything good. He lamented that such a worldview kills individuality and impedes personal growth.

Janteloven today

Many Scandinavians consider Booth M. Almost ideal people. - M., 2017, that Janteloven is a thing of the past. In Norway, they even erected a monument - a grave for the "Jante law".

Nevertheless, he continues to be invisibly present in the society of the Nordic countries. As almost 100 years ago, this set of unwritten rules is almost rigorously followed.

So, among the Scandinavians there is Forget hygge: The laws that really rule in Scandinavia. BBC IDEAS is the belief that all members of society should dress almost the same, drive the same cars, buy similar products. Moreover, this is typical not only for small settlements, but also for large cities.

Scandinavian media love Booth M. Almost perfect people. - M., 2017 to vilify "too rich" people who do not hide their success, and maliciously mock their failures. The positives, like gender and financial equality, high levels of health care, and so on, are celebrated as universal merit, not the result of the efforts of individuals.

Why amanteloven is criticized

Many young people from the Scandinavian countries (especially from Norway) believe that the Jante Law prevents businesses and startups from developing.

MonkeyRat formed in Denmark sings the song F * ck the Jante Law

Jante's Law is in obvious conflict with modern capitalist economics. She supports private initiative and the desire to earn money, while society condemns the demonstration of personal success and "elevation" above others. This discrepancy was captured by F * CK Janteloven - Art Poster by Hornsleth. Hornsleth Shop features Danish artist Christian von Hornslet's poster with F * ck Janteloven in front of a US dollar sign.

Stephen Trotter, a sociologist at the University of Glasgow, sees amateurs as a form of censorship, an attempt to portray a cohesive state.

He compares Danish-Norwegian justice to a bucket containing several crabs: when one of them tries to get out, the others pull it back.

Even the best motives of amber, such as rejection of boasting and envy, sometimes go to extremes. An example of this is the case of One Like All. Around the world with Swedish school chef Anika Eriksson. She was nearly fired for diversifying the menu “too much”. According to the special commission, this could provoke envy on the part of students from other schools, therefore, the food should be the same everywhere. Anika was saved only by the intercession of schoolchildren and their parents.

Those who believe that amber is a blessing, go to the very extreme statements. Thus, even the successes of Norwegian athletes are explained by the adherence to the Janthe Law. For example, they say that the 13-time world cross-country champion Petter Nortug, thanks to Janteloven, became less conceited, assessed his rivals more objectively - and therefore won.

What amanteloven principles should be remembered and applied

Despite the fact that amber is highly controversial, some of its principles (when used wisely) can have a beneficial effect on any society.

Modesty and restraint

Modesty, thriftiness and refusal from excesses are instilled in northerners from childhood, and they follow these vectors very clearly.

For example, a Scandinavian car would rather prefer One like everyone else. Bicycle around the world. A native of Northern Europe will not spread about his achievements and consider himself the best, belittling the dignity of other people. An example is the lifestyle of one of the richest people in the world, the founder of IKEA, Ingvar Kamprad. He was once denied entry to the Businessman of the Year award because he came to the ceremony by bus.

Before criticizing your northern neighbors for their asceticism, think about how important it really is for you to have expensive clothes, drive a luxurious car, and change your smartphone every year. Not everyone is ready to hide their successes and be ashamed of them, but this helps Scandinavians to avoid envy. Perhaps that is why the population of the northern countries of Europe is in fact, and not in words, so fair and united Forget hygge: The laws that really rule in Scandinavia. BBC IDEAS.

Calm attitude towards yourself and your achievements

Most Scandinavians do not deliberately try One like everyone else. Achieve more than others around the world. Perhaps that is why they feel quite successful and happy.

Avoiding the constant "race for success" avoids envy and FOMO - the syndrome of lost profit. In addition, it helps to do good deeds disinterestedly and from a pure heart, without the desire to trumpet about it at every corner. In Sweden, for example, there is a popular saying “Noble deeds are done in silence”.

Selflessness and benevolence, as well as the absence of envy and greed in Scandinavians, are interconnected with a high level of trust in people. Largely due to this, having lost, for example, a wallet while traveling in Scandinavia, you may well expect that it will be returned to you safe and sound. And even more so, you can always Forget hygge: The laws that really rule in Scandinavia. BBC IDEAS count on help if you get into trouble.

Social justice

The principles of Janteloven existed in the Scandinavian countries, the majority of whose population were peasants, long before the publication of Sandemuse's book. Standing out in such a society meant Booth M. Almost perfect people. - M., 2017 fall out of the generally accepted norm and be ridiculed, or even exiled.

The Jante Law found its second wind with the rise of the Social Democrats to power in the 20th century, when it penetrated from the way of life of small communities into political rhetoric and the school system.

Is it bad? Not really.

Most Scandinavians believe that they live in a society of equality and justice. And there are very specific reasons for this.

For example, an ordinary civil servant in Norway receives a salary only three times less than the country's prime minister. A similar comparison of these data in the UK shows that the work of an ordinary official is estimated six times lower than that of the head of state.

It is not customary for the Swedish royal family to wear crowns, and education and medicine in this country, unlike many Western examples, are free for every citizen. Also, in Sweden, you will not find manifestations of a formal hierarchy. It is customary there to refer to each other by name, regardless of position and status.

Tendency to order

The desire for the common good can also explain the pedantic attitude of Forget hygge: The laws that really rule in Scandinavia. BBC IDEAS Scandinavians to order. They sort waste, recycle plastic and glass, and reuse things, making waste virtually zero. For example, in Sweden, keeping order is the duty of every citizen. The state itself focuses not on coercion, but on explaining why all this is needed, so the population does not complain and, in general, has a positive attitude towards the need to sort waste.

As a result, it is the northern countries that are considered the most environmentally friendly, and their inhabitants - the most careful with nature. In addition, thanks in large part to the Scandinavians and their philosophy, people around the world began to get rid of unnecessary trash in the house, freeing up space for life, and not for things.

Of course, accusations of Scandinavian anti-individualism do not arise out of nowhere. However, this does not mean that the positive experience of the Nordic countries should be ignored. There is nothing wrong with a heightened sense of social justice and the desire to ensure that no one in society feels disadvantaged. But you need to understand that any good idea, taken to an extreme, can lead to dire consequences.