Download Scandinavian politics and culture

Rachel Willson-Broyles
April 29, 2008


Constitutional monarchy
Riksdagen: unicameral since
1970, 349 members since
1975

Proportional representation
with party leaders

Often coalition government

Currently a non-socialist
coalition under the name
“Allians för Sverige” or
Alliance for Sweden.
Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt
Photo: www.moderaterna.net
The non-socialist (center-right)
bloc
The socialist bloc
•Formed in 1904
•Ideology: Liberal-conservative
•Currently 97 seats (27%)
•Combating unemployment, crime
•Emphasis on free market,
privatization
•Lowering taxes while maintaining the
welfare state
•”More at work—more to share”—the
coalition manifesto’s slogan
Campaign poster, ”Sweden
needs a new workers’ party!”
Photo: www.moderaterna.se
•Founded in 1902
•Ideology: social liberalism
•Currently 28 seats (8%)
•”Social Responsibility without
socialism”
•Pro-European Union
•Pro-NATO
•Pro-privatization
Election poster, 1936
Photo: www.folkpartiet.se


Founded 1913
Ideology: green social
liberalism

Currently 29 seats (8%)

Originally the agrarian party

Pro-immigration

Pro-personal choice in the
welfare state
Earth-friendly poster:
”Become smart about the
climate.”
From www.centerpartiet.se





Founded 1964
Ideology: Christian
Democracy
Currently 24 seats (7%)
”Values-based” familyoriented policy: choice in
childcare, care of the elderly
Lowering taxes while
maintaining the welfare state,
combating unemployment
Campaign poster, 2006:
“Yes! We protect the
family.”
Photo: www.kristdemokraterna.se

Founded 1981

Ideology: Green

Currently 19 seats (5%)


Does not formally
consider itself part of
either bloc
Concerned with the
environment and equal
rights
Campaign poster, 2006
Photo: www.mp.se

Founded 1889

Ideology: social democracy,
functional socialism

Currently 130 seats (37%)

Association with the workers’
unions

In majority for all but nine
years between 1932-2006

Instrumental in implementation
of the welfare state
(”folkhemmet”)
”Bli supporter” video from
Social Democrats’
YouTube channel


Founded 1917 (split from
Social Democrats)
Ideology: socialist,
feminist (formerly
communist)

Currently 22 seats (6%)

Opposes privatization

Opposes Sweden’s EU
membership





Universal suffrage in 1919
Five women were in the
Riksdag in 1921
Today, 47% of the members
of the Riksdag are women
Mona Sahlin and Maud
Olofsson are the party
leaders of the Social
Democrats and the Greens,
respectively
Maria Wetterstrand is one of
two Green spokespeople.
Mona Sahlin, Maria Wetterstrand, Maud Olofsson
Photos: www.riksdagen.se




Termed “folkhemmet,” the
people’s home
“Welfare” as a positive
concept
Social responsibility and
equality
Supported by the major
political parties, though in
different ways
The Swedish flag
Photo:
vastgotalandet.vastsverige.com


Emigration
1909: expanded male
suffrage

Urbanization

Organizing workers
Suffrage poster
Photo: www.bgf.nu


Neutrality policy
Trade theoretically with both sides, but in
reality largely with Germany

Cessation of trade, rationing

”Revolution” of 1917-1918




Political climate shifts
from left/right to
socialist/non-socialist
1920: first socialdemocratic government
Hjalmar Branting: first
social-democratic prime
minister
Instability—fifteen
governments between the
wars
Hjalmar Branting
Photo: Wikipedia



Succeeded Branting as
party leader, 1925
1928: Uses term
“folkhemmet” to describe
the ideal of a welfare
society
Red-green coalitions
(”the cow deal”) bring
more stability
P.A. Hansson
Photo: Wikipedia

Prime minister 1932-1946



Models: Keynesian
economic theory and FDR’s
”New Deal”
A ”middle way” between
capitalism and communism
Financed with taxes and
revenue from state-owned
companies

Mixed economy: both
state and private ownership

Combating unemployment
1934:
1935:
1937:
1938:
Some new benefits
Unemployment insurance
Pensions for the elderly
Support for new mothers
Housing loans
Two-week vacations
From Nordstrom, Scandinavia since 1500





Sweden declares
neutrality, but must
make concessions to
Germany
Trade economy
disrupted
Rationing in effect
Power concentrated in
government
Feelings of solidarity
lead to increased
willingness to work for
the common good
post-war
Rationing coupons for coffee and tea
Photo: Wikipedia
The groundwork for the
welfare state was laid:
Book about the Swedish
welfare society by
Marquis Childs

Basic pension increased

Child allowances for all

9-year compulsory
education

Health insurance for all

One problem: eugenics
and forced sterilization

Often considered to be
the peak of folkhemmet

Expansion of benefits

The pension question

Immigration

The ”million program”
Apartment house in Tensta, part
of the ”million program”
Photo: www.arkitekturmuseet.se


The Welfare State was
financed by taxation
and worker and
employer
contributions.
The average citizen,
in the 1960’s, paid
50% of income in tax.
(Nordstrom)

Value-added tax was
about 20%.
State-owned entities




”Liberal Sweden’s”
reputation: sex, suicide,
and socialism
Prime Minister Olof Palme
spoke publicly against US
involvement
Sweden granted asylum to
some deserting US soldiers
The US recalled its
ambassador twice, in 1968
and 1972
Palme (third from left)
marches in an anti-war
demonstration
photo: Wikipedia

Economic slowdown

Oil crisis

Dissatisfaction with
queues and taxes

Exodus of the over-taxed
rich

Loss of support for Social
Democrats leads to
election of more
conservative government
Author Astrid Lindgren with
“Pippi.”
Photo: www.ard.de

Charismatic, well-liked by
the left and intensely
disliked by the right

A controversial figure

Assassinated February 28,
1986


Murder unsolved,
conspiracy theories
abound
End of a time of innocence
for Sweden
Plaque marking Palme’s
place of assassination
Photo: Wikipedia



Economic downturn,
unemployment, inflation,
low production, crime
Loss of confidence in
Socialist bloc,
Conservative government
Rise of smaller, more
extreme parties: ”Ny
Demokrati”

Neo-Nazi activity

The ”Laser Man”
The Laser Man
Photo: Wikipedia
News clip about the laser man
Swedish Television, 1991

Reform without
dismantling

Maintaining access
for all

Decentralization


Privatization
Changes in benefits
Sweden has been having problems
with waiting periods for elective
medical procedures, despite more
doctors in private practice.
Photo: Dagens Nyheter



Paid maternity and
paternity leave (up
to 16 months)
State-sponsored
childcare (dagis)
Allowances for
children up to 16
(barnbidrag)
Dagis group in Sweden
Photo: www.kalix.se



Universal health-care,
single-payer system
Nominal fees for service
(SEK 80/day for an
inpatient) (www.sweden.se)
Ceilings for yearly
healthcare costs

Sweden spends about 9%
of GDP on healthcare (the
US spends about 15%)
(Consulate General of Sweden)

Dental care free under 19;
then subsidized

Small private market,
about 10%

Various pension plans from employer and
government

Unemployment insurance

Paid sick leave for self and children



Free education for
all, through
university level
Monthly student
loans
Allowance for
housing
Library at the University of Uppsala





The welfare benefits are
paid for by a variety of
taxes
Sweden spends about 29%
of its GDP on public social
programs (2001)
Income tax ranges from
0-59%
VAT is 25% for most
goods and services, 12%
for food and 6% for books
The general pension is
16% of income; 8% paid by
employee and 8% by the
employer
In comparison



The US spends about 15%
of its GDP on public social
programs (e.g. Social
Security, Medicare) (2001)
Income tax in the US
ranges from 10-33%
(US Treasury)
Sales tax varies by state
and sometimes county.




EU Membership (since
1995)
Unemployment (currently
6.3%; Statistics Sweden)
Abuse by citizens
Assimilation of
immigrants?
A new self-serve Systembolaget store
Photo: Wikipedia




“Collective individualism”
A consumer culture with a
safety net
Funding for the arts
The Swedish invasion???
A communal music school group
Photo: www.kulturskolan.varmdo.se
Any questions?