Conspicuous Modesty in a Cosmopolitan Environment? a Study of Nordic Expatriates in Strasbourg

Within the framework of my comparative studies on social distinction, I have emphasised that in some societies (such as those of Nordic European countries), social differentiations are more often than not under-communicated while sameness is over-communicated. What can often be observed is a relative avoidance of distinction from one’s peers.

The question arises, however, as to whether what I call ‘conspicuous modesty’ in those countries is a phenomenon that can also be observed among Scandinavians or Finns working abroad - and sometimes interacting with fairly conspicuous well-to-do people from other cultural areas. This paper summarises the results of a research about Nordic expatriates in the ‘Euro-city’ of Strasbourg along such lines.