New dawn: death, grief and the 'nation form' in Iceland

The management of death and grief in Iceland has undergone dramatic changes in the last two decades. Organizations supporting bereaved people have been established around the island and a specialized palliative care unit opened within the National Hospital. This paper focuses especially on the establishment and work of N Dgun (New Dawn), an organization that supports bereaved people and those who work with the bereaved. It also speculates on linkages between changes in the management of death and grief, the changing fortunes of the 'nation form', and the different ways in which political power is legitimized.