The topic of this issue are the Nordic countries which lead international rankings with regard to education, competitiveness and gender equality.

Of interest in the remaining section is the review of Saskia Sassen's new book A sociology of globalization which has been published in German now; Sassen focuses on the importance of the national to study globalisation, offering a new interpretation and analysis (p.99-101).

Some articles are accessible online on the website of the editor, the German Institut für Auslandbeziehungen at this external link.