In this introductory lecture, I will initially provide an overview of the course and its progression. Afterwards, we will talk about the characteristics of the Nordic welfare states, their historical background and the dilemmas, problems and opportunities that immigration and increasing cultural diversity pose to them. Moreover, we will discuss how the three countries have responded in terms of policy to increasing immigration – especially in relation to the migration/refugee crisis of 2014-15. Overall, this lesson provide important contextual knowledge that will inform discussions throughout the course.