From ghetto strategies to segregation barometers, Nordic countries are tackling urban segregation in divergent ways. A common feature, though, is that these policies and tools are all emerging against a backdrop of growing concerns about inequality and societal division in Nordic cities.
Urban segregation is increasing across the region—not only in major metropolitan areas but also in medium-sized and smaller towns. Shifting welfare regimes, global economic trends, and migration patterns are reshaping these urban landscapes. In major cities such as Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo, and Helsinki, socio-economic and ethnic divides are becoming increasingly visible—not just in housing but also in education, employment, and public spaces.
As these divides deepen, how are national and local governments in the Nordic Region working to foster more inclusive cities and neighbourhoods? What role do data-driven indicators, participatory planning, and urban design play?
In this webinar on April 30, we launched our new report Beyond segregation: Nordic approaches to socially inclusive cities.
Speakers and panelists include:
- Mats Stjernberg, Senior Research Fellow, Nordregio
- Magnus Jacobsson, Head of Housing Unit, Boverket, Sweden
- Venla Bernelius, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland
- Bettina Werner,Co-Founder/Ethnographer, CoUrban
- Jaana Nevalainen, Senior Specialist, Ministry of the Environment, Finland
Moderator: Annika Östman, Nordregio
Programme
10:00 Welcome and introduction
Policies to counteract segregation and promote social inclusion
Mats Stjernberg (Nordregio) and Venla Bernelius (Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland)
Measuring segregation: How data and indicators shape policy
Mats Stjernberg (Nordregio) and Magnus Jacobsson (Boverket, Sweden)
Engaging communities: The role of public participation
Mats Stjernberg (Nordregio) and Bettina Werner (CoUrban)
What role does the built environment play in social inclusion?
Mats Stjernberg (Nordregio)
Key takeaways: Lessons for the future of Nordic cities
Mats Stjernberg (Nordregio) and Jaana Nevalainen (Ministry of the Environment, Finland)
11:30 End of webinar
Watch the recording and listen in as we examine the findings and recommendations from this report, which examined urban segregation and social inclusion in all five Nordic countries and 13 Nordic cities.
