Nordic cultural cooperation has since the cultural agreement between the Nordic countries in 1971, been developed in several directions. The article is prepared at the request of the Nordic Council of Ministers, as a starting point to describe, analyze and evaluate the Nordic cultural cooperations historical development and addres the present challenges in a globalized perspective. How can the cultural policy in the Nordic countries' cultural policy and the Nordic cultural co-operation cope with the new cultural challenges at the dawn of the 21st century? How can cultural policy and the Nordic region leave progressiv cultural marks in Europe and the rest of the world based on the Nordic welfare model generated after World War II ? Which themes are adequat for the humanities and social sciences to put on the agenda, if Nordic cultural policy research should be in line with the new national,European and global challenges?