Multiple (in)equalities and the future of feminisms -challenges to Scandinavian democracies in postnational sociieties

The objective of the paper is to analyse the general challenge from multiple inequalities to liberal democracies to negotiate claims for gender equality with claims for accommodation of religious and cultural diversities in a post-national world. Europeanisation, globalization and migration processes have sparkled a growth in nationalisms and in an anti-equality, anti-diversity and anti-human rights agenda in Europe and the EU. Rightwing populism often combines anti-diversity and anti-EU agendas (jfr. ; Mokre & Siim fortc), and feminist scholars have noticed that Right-wing populist parties often use and misuse gender equality against ethnic minorities (Akkerman & Hagelund 2007; Siim, fortc). The main focus of the paper is on Scandinavian democracies which arguably face problems with accomodating cultural and religious diversity from immigrant groups outside Europe (Brochmann & Hagelund 2011). Growing mobility and migration has sparkled anti-equality, anti-diversity agendas in the Nordic countries. Here conservative feminisms, radical right wing parties and neo-liberalism are perceived as a challenge to Social democracies, universal welfare models and national belongings. The second part of the paper discusses equality and social justice in a post-national world and the future role of feminisms. It first examines the political responses to anti-equality, anti-diversity agendas in Scandinavia focusing on the intersections of political institutions and civil society actors. It then discusses the potentials and barriers for inclusive deliberation and participation of all civil society actors in determining policies. The final section discusses political responses to anti-equality, anti-diversity and anti-human rights agendas in Europe and the EU/EC looking at the potentials and barriers of multi-level institutions, nation states, EC, European Parliament, for inclusive deliberation and participation of civil society actors (Ferree 2008). References: Akkerman Tjitske and Hagelund Anniken, ‘Women and children first!’ Anti-immigration parties and gender in Norway and the Netherlands, Patterns of Prejudice, vol. 41, no. 2, 2007, 197-214. Brochmann, Grete & Anniken Hagelund (2011). Ferree, Myra M. (2008). Framing Equalities. The Politics of Class, Race and Gender in The US and Germany, and the Expanding European Union. In: xxx Hellström, A. t. Nielson & P. Stoltz (2012). “Nationalism vs. Nationalism. The Challenge of ther Swedish Democratcs in the Swedish Public Debates”, Government and Opposition, April. Mokre, M. & B. Siim (eds). Intersections of Gender and Diversity in the European Public Sphere, Palgrave, fortc. Siim, Birte “Migration, Multiculturalism and Gender – a Nordic Perspective” in Peter Kivistro & Pter Kraus (eds). Palgrave (fortc) Stoltz, Pauline (2011). Canons and Communities. Children and Social Cohesion in Sweden and the Netherlands, Education, Citrizenshio and Social Justice, March 2011, Vol. 6 No. 1. Stoltz, P., M. Svensson, Zhongxin S, & Q. Quang (eds.) (2010). Gender Equality, Citizenship and Human Rights. Controversies and challenges in China and the Nordic countries. London/New York: Routledge. Walby, Sylvia (2009). Globalization and Inequalities: Complexity and Contested Modernities. London: Sage. .