Why did responsive communitarians regard the Scandinavian countries as a strong example of balance?

Responsive communitarians advocate for a balance between two core values: the common good and autonomy and rights. They argue that because societies often tilt too far toward one of these values, they must be pulled back toward the center.12

In the early 21st century, responsive communitarians identified the Scandinavian countries as the strongest example of this balance. They viewed these nations as having successfully fostered modern communities where individuals benefit from both a rich web of social relations and significant degrees of freedom. By maintaining robust social structures that support the common good while simultaneously upholding individual rights, these countries represented the synthesis that responsive communitarians sought to achieve.12

However, it is important to note that even in these examples, responsive communitarians observed that this balance is not static; they noted that individual rights in the region were being challenged by security concerns and rising anti-immigrant sentiment.1