In some areas, such as technological innovation, the United States leads the world.  Unfortunately, understanding people is not one of those areas.  Yes, it is true, the collective culture of the United States is not as mature socially as more established parts of the world.  The Nordic counties tend to lead in social maturity.  A look at history would support the trend.  

The Viking Age of colonization began in 780’s and lasted until the early 1100’s.  Following that period the Nordic countries began to outlaw slavery.  First it was Iceland in 1117, then Denmark and Norway in 1274 and finally Sweden and Finland in 1335.  400 years after the end of Viking Age of colonization in Europe, Europeans began to colonize.  The European Age of colonization began in the 1500’s and lasted until the early 1900’s.  Then, 400 years after the Nordic countries outlawed slavery, the European countries began to outlaw slavery; France in 1794, Spain in 1811 and England 1834.  The United States, which socially represented many colonies of Europe, did not follow until 1863, after a Civil War was fought over the issue.

The Nordic School of thought is breaking out as the new thought leaders of the western world.