In May 2023, the Roger Scruton Legacy Foundation partnered with New Direction and the Foreningen for alle konservative studenter (FAKS) to present the annual Nostos Conference in Oslo. Nordic conservatism is in a renaissance, with new ideas and beliefs emerging to support the old. Chief amongst them is the debate over the foundations and fundamentals underpinning free society. Nordic countries are at the forefront of this debate over the balance of freedom and responsibility in both government and civil society – balancing the role of the state with that of the individual. For many, this freedom is under renewed pressure with the rise of a radical counter cultures in society.
CONFERENCE RECORDINGS
Opening Remarks
Witold d’Humilly de Chevilly - Executive Director of New Direction
Panel #1: The Underpinnings of Free Society in Europe
Mahmoud Farahmand MP - Conservative Party Norway
Mikkel Bjørn Sørensen MP - Danish Peoples Party
Hardo Pajula - Economist
Robert Tyler - Senior Policy Advisor at New Direction (Moderator)
Panel #2: Sovereignty, Security and a thriving society
Rihards Kols MP - National Alliance (Latvia) and chair of the Foreign Affairs committee
Anna Molberg MP - Conservative Party Norway
Christian Anton Smedshaug - Author - “Feeding the World in the 21st Century”
Alexander Christiansson MP - Swedish Democrats
Samuel Rapinoja de Carvalho - True Finns Youth Helsinki (Moderator)
Panel #3: Nordic Conservatism in a European Perspective
Hannes Gissurarson - Professor of Political Science
Jakob Söderbaum - Philosopher
Christian Egander Skov - Historian
Christian Anton Smedshaug - Author - “Feeding the World in the 21st Century”
Emma Webb - Common Sense Society (Moderator)
Panel #4: Academic Freedom and the role of Education
Emma Webb - Common Sense Society
Frank Furedi - MCC Brussels
Ilmari Rostila - Finnish Association
Sturla Ellingvåg - Historian
Jarl Roar Simonsen - FAKS (Moderator)
Panel #5: On Settling Together - Beauty And Civility Among Neighbours
Erik Norin - Sweden - Architect
Prof. Ferenc Hörcher - Academic
Marjo Uotila - Architect
Robert Kwolek - Architect
Haakon Teig - FAKS (Moderator)
Closing Speech
Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson MP - Former Prime Minister Iceland