værdipolitisk

16:56 Jul 14, 2011 

I'm not so sure there's an English equivalent that fits neatly here. "Værdipolitik" refers to a debate in Denmark that entails many things, not least national identity and responses to immigration.

It's somewhat analogous in its function in political debates to the phrase "family values" that's been used as shorthand in American politics. "Family values" was first used by advocates for traditional, often religion-based values. These days their political opponents also use it as a derisive term, particularly when someone claiming the "family values" mantle is revealed to be less of a role model than asserted. Likewise:

"Op til kommunalvalget den 17.november 2009 har ordet desuden fået en alternativ betydning. "Værdipolitik" kan også dække over, når politikere i mangel på opmærksomhed forsøger at profilere sig på banale og ligegyldige ting. Værdipolitik er opfattet som, når politikere går til ekstremerne for at skabe opmærksomhed om deres parti eller person." -- http://tinyurl.com/6b5kfzu

If you dropped the Danish equivalent of "family values" into a Danish text without explaining the whole context, the meaning would be lost. I would suggest using a parenthetical explanation.