Ann Werner, Professor in Musicology, Uppsala University

This presentation discuses and problematizes the ideas of "Nordic" values and identity in contemporary illiberal times and what importance they have in Higher Music Education (HME). The Nordic region, including the Baltic countries, score high when gender equality and democracy is quantitively valued around the world. This corresponds with ideals of openness, equality, education, and sustainability.
Firstly, the presentation will present research in social and political science that have shown that democratic values are common in the Nordic region.
Secondly it will discuss the function of the Nordic values by deconstructing them. The ideas of the region as "good" due to its' values have been used as nation branding and to further nationalist agendas. At the same time, social inequalities are growing in for example Sweden and systems built to further equality are being torn down.
Finally, the presentation will use results from the research project Conservatory Cultures studying the contemporary construction of belonging in terms of nation and gender in HME to illuminate the role of values in HME.
The presentation both highlights the importance of and problematises the Nordic values in HME with examples from Helsinki and Tallinn. Enhancing Nordic values as belonging can have nationalistic effects and be a demarcation against "others". At the same time openness, equality, education, and sustainability are central to hold on to for preserving hope in our illiberal times.