The Predicament of Privilege : Inequality and Ambivalence in Contemporary Scandinavian Culture
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Overview
Is privilege a problem? Scandinavians ask, Is this okay? --and wrestle with the answer
A twenty-first century paradox has emerged in contemporary Scandinavian societies: the region's deeply ingrained egalitarian ideals exist uneasily alongside its undeniable global privilege. In The Predicament of Privilege, Devika Sharma examines this tension, exploring how a well-intentioned desire to "do good" collides with an unsettling realization: the very structures that enable ethical consumption, charitable donations, and humanitarian action are themselves embedded in a system of exploitation.
Through an incisive analysis of contemporary Scandinavian cultural texts, The Predicament of Privilege introduces the concept of skeptimentality--a pervasive moral ambivalence about virtuous emotions like compassion and generosity. As Sharma demonstrates, this sentiment does not necessarily lead to action but creates a vacuum, leaving privilege-sensitive publics with a crisis of conscience but no clear path forward. Sharma's book challenges both the self-image of Nordic societies and the broader assumptions of humanitarian ethics. A necessary read for scholars, cultural critics, and anyone engaging with the politics of privilege, this book offers a bold new perspective on the unfinished business of equality.
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Details
- ISBN-13: 9780295754116
- ISBN-10: 0295754117
- Publisher: University of Washington Press
- Publish Date: February 2026
- Dimensions: 8.99 x 5.99 x 0.8 inches
- Shipping Weight: 0.9 pounds
- Page Count: 264
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