If it was as basic as do what the Danes do, then every country could be as prosperous as Denmark. But we all know it doesn’t work that way. Where does “culture” come from? Does it fall from the sky?
No, it evolves over generations. As the theory goes. In each generation it adapts to whatever new challenges it faces. Remember that Scandinavia, historically, have been harsh environments where food has been scarce and the environment is constantly trying to kill you. Cooperation and pulling your weight was necessary. Conflicts inside the tribe could easily lead to the death of the entire tribe. Because of the high cost of conflict we developed a conflict avoidant culture.
This is all highly speculative, mostly based on anthropological work with inuits and Icelanders. It's also based on a anthropological book I read comparing the cultures East and West of the Andies. The cultures West of the Andies were more sophisticated than those East of the Andes. Because the environment was harsher.
Once a high trust society has been established it's self perpetuating, because the cost of transactions is relatively low. The members of the culture work to perpetuate it.
But you don't need a lot of strife and war to make this culture go away. The Vikings built comparatively little walls and forts. Why? Because nobody in their right mind would want to conquer them. The barren land wasn't worth the effort. Historically that has been our protector. Which I suspect is what has perpetuated the culture.
If you go further south it's a non stop invasion carnage. Looking out for number one has been a better strategy for survival than blind loyalty to your kin.
I have worked a lot with Indians. Indian culture is a hell of a lot more sophisticated than Scandinavian cultures. With complicated networks of loyalties and allegiances. Corruption is complicated and in many layers. Communication is indirect. You can't tell anybody straight what you think or they'll interpret it as extreme aggression.
For good or for worse this is what you get when your culture has been the most affluent in the world since any human stopped hunting and gathering. It's a result of always having stuff a lot of other people wants to steal. It's so fertile that your doom won't come from the environment. It'll be at the hand of a "friend". Trust between people is low.
I think all culture is like this. It's the result of history and economic realities.
Now with the Internet and as globalization progresses and economies become more similar cultural differences will be smoothed out and blend into just one global culture. I think that's inevitable.
I think it's anyone's guess what that new global culture will look like
