Resisting solutionism and apathy: productive tensions in Nordic global citizenship education

Nordic exceptionalism conveys a perception of innocence whereby Nordic states are exemplary in regard to justice, as exemplary states, including a strong dedication in education to action competence around sustainable development. Yet, Nordic countries are embedded in, not outside, longstanding global power inequalities. This necessitates a critically reflective approach to global citizenship education (GCE). This paper explores corresponding tensions between action and reflexivity given researchers’ concerns about solutionism. The authors consider how neoliberalism shapes the demand for action-oriented GCE. They identify opportunities to rethink the concepts of action and individual solutionism, underscoring the need for collective approaches in a world where injustice and multiple crises can render young people passive and disengaged. They argue critical reflexivity is particularly needed given how right-wing populist parties currently influence politics, challenging the premise the Nordic countries are losing their role as global ‘good states’.