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Predicament of Privilege: Inequality and Ambivalence in Contemporary Scandinavian Culture
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Published
Feb 24, 2026
ISBN-13
9780295754116

Predicament of Privilege: Inequality and Ambivalence in Contemporary Scandinavian Culture

by Sharma, Devika
No customer reviews yet ISBN 9780295754116

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.

Product details

Pub dateFeb 24, 2026
ISBN-100295754117
ISBN-139780295754116
LanguageEnglish
Last updated 2026-03-02 21:43
$36.69
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