Coping with COVID-19. Dugnad: a case of the moral premise of the Norwegian welfare state

Purpose This paper provides an analysis of the notion of dugnad (collective effort) in the context of the first weeks of the outbreak of COVID-19 in Norway. By appealing to people's sense of collective effort (dugnadsand) Norwegian leaders successfully managed to coordinate the actions of the population and beat the outbreak. Design/methodology/approach The argument builds on the pragmatic sociology associated with Boltanski and Thevenot and their "orders of worth". Building on qualitative interview studies of the Norwegian middle and working classes a moral ideal type labelled "the socially responsible citizen" is identified. Findings The authors argue that dugnad is embedded in a moral repertoire of the socially responsible citizen that is indicative of a specific Norwegian welfare mentality and that is imperative for the sustainability and resilience of the Norwegian welfare model. This repertoire is found across social classes and has to be understood in light of the Norwegian welfare model and the role of civil society. Social implications The analysis explains the societal impact of the appeal and endorsement of the notion of dugnad in the context of the outbreak of COVID-19. Originality/value The paper explores the roots and impact of a social phenomenon that has not been a matter for much sociological analysis.