| Summary: | At the end of World War II, the region of Finnmark was systematically destroyed by retreating Wehrmacht forces. The entire population was forcefully evacuated, and all built structures were burnt to the ground. Immediately following the war, a reconstruction of the region began. The reconstruction brought with it a new model for life in Finnmark, rooted in the ideals of social democracy and modernisation. Through a great effort, this model was implemented throughout the region in record time. Continued state intervention during the 1960s and decentralisation policies during the 1970s helped keep the welfare state institutions, and thus the post-war model, intact. Through a continued dismantling of the welfare state following the 1980s, the post-war model has become antiquated and unreliable. In Finnmark, the tendency of corporatisation and centralisation has resulted in a series of continuous crises of unemployment and population decline. For many, the solution seems to lie in a reestablishment of industry and institutions, following the welfare model. This project is an attempt at looking the other way - towards the future, instead of the past. The aim of the project is to imagine a way out of the downward spiral by following the trajectory of modernisation through to its conclusion, rather than trying to cling on to the past. The project asks: Is it time for a second reconstruction? submittedVersion
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