Welfare Becomes Punishment: Penal Nationalism in Danish Social Policy

In this article, we demonstrate how ‘penal nationalism’ came to influence Danish social policy during the 2000s. While critical evaluations of the Nordic Exceptionalism thesis have underscored the significance of immigration in shaping both penal and border policies of the Nordic welfare states, our...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Bjerre, Cecilie 1985- (Author) ; Brinkgaard, Lea Cecilie (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2025
In: The British journal of criminology
Year: 2025, Volume: 65, Issue: 1, Pages: 110-125
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Keywords:
Parenting and Youth Orders
welfare state(s)
Integration
Social Policy
Penal Policy
penal nationalism
Description
Summary:In this article, we demonstrate how ‘penal nationalism’ came to influence Danish social policy during the 2000s. While critical evaluations of the Nordic Exceptionalism thesis have underscored the significance of immigration in shaping both penal and border policies of the Nordic welfare states, our analysis delves into the core of the Danish welfare state by examining the implementation of the social policy tool, Parenting and Youth Orders. Through this case study, we show how penal instruments were integrated into social policy to regulate citizens with immigrant backgrounds residing in Denmark. These political innovations encompass the reinforcement and legitimization of (1) the explicit targeting of citizens with ethnic minority background and (2) the utilization of new penal instruments within the social realm.
ISSN:1464-3529
DOI:10.1093/bjc/azae029