Introduction: What is Denmark and Who Are the Danes?

Breaking out of the expatriate bubble in Denmark: insights from the challenge of making connections with local Danes

“…In addition, Danish culture has certain characteristics that make it more difficult for a foreigner to truly “have a seat at the table.” In line with their frequent description as a ‘tribe’ (Nørmark, 2013, p. 39), Jespersen (2011, p. 217) characterizes the Danes as surrounding a campfire, sitting together “… shoulder to shoulder around it, with their backs to the darkness outside the circle of light from the fire” . Knudsen (2016) provides a similar analogy featuring Danes sitting around a table, clearly delineating who is part of the group and making it difficult for outsiders to join and participate.…”

“…A first fundamental element for explaining why expatriates encounter difficulty in connecting with Danes is the cultural and social homogeneity of Denmark. This firmly-rooted homogeneity can be traced as far back as 1,660 when an absolutist monarchy that emphasized uniformity was established and maintained throughout Denmark for the next 188 years (Jespersen, 2011). The Kingdom of Denmark experienced major territory loss in the 19th century, losing Norway in 1814 and the Duchies of Schleswig, Holstein and Saxe-Lauenburg in 1864.…”

“…The Kingdom of Denmark experienced major territory loss in the 19th century, losing Norway in 1814 and the Duchies of Schleswig, Holstein and Saxe-Lauenburg in 1864. In discussing this geographic downsizing, Jespersen (2011, p. 25) stated, “What little remained of Denmark was as close-knit as could possibly be imagined in terms of a perfect nation state. There was a single nationality with a single language, Danish.…”

“…As Østergård (1990, p. 25) states, “Hygge always has its backs turned on the others. Hygge is for the members, not the strangers.” These characteristics favoring homogeneity are echoed by Jespersen (2011, p. 25), who comments on Denmark's self-image of being “Lilliput, with a small and insignificant role to play” and choosing to “turn their back to the world” . This self-isolation is coupled with a sense of national contentment and even superiority.…”

“…In addition, many Danes place a strong value on being able to speak their native language. Jespersen (2011) describes how their language has been the core of their Danish identity since the end of the 17th century, serving as a basis for solidity throughout the Danish kingdom. As asserted by Gundelach (2002), Danes consider their language a symbol of their independence and cultural uniqueness; they are almost proud of speaking a challenging language that few in the world share and can understand, which contributes to a reluctance to socially include those who do not speak Danish fluently.…”