Europe

Sweden
Last reviewed: 27 June 2008

Country information

See entire profile

HISTORY

Recent History

The EU dominated the 1990s. The Social Democratic government applied for membership in 1991 and the successor Conservative Government reaffirmed Sweden's commitment to the aims of the EU, including its provisions for a Common Foreign and Security Policy. This was significant in light of Sweden's longstanding unilateral commitment to neutrality. The decline in East – West tension had prompted a debate in Sweden as to what 'neutrality' now meant in practise. The resulting consensus was that Sweden's neutrality was compatible with the EU's goal of a Common Foreign and Security Policy.

In 1995 Sweden became the 15th member of the EU.

In 1996 Social Democrat Göran Persson became Prime Minister after his party colleague Ingvar Carlsson stepped down. Persson then won elections in 1998 and 2002, both times forming a minority government, supported in the Riksdag by the Left Party and the Greens. In a 2003 referendum, Swedes rejected adopting the Euro.

None of the two biggest catastrophes in Sweden’s recent history have taken place on Swedish soil. In September 1994, the Estonia ship sank in the Baltic Sea. More than half of the passengers were Swedes. In the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia, Sweden was one of the hardest hit non-Asian countries. Around 550 Swedish tourists are known to have died and thousands returned home with injuries. The Swedish Government was slow in reacting to the needs of the Swedish victims and was heavily criticised by the media and the public.

Two dramatic murders have shaken Sweden’s normally calm society in recent years. In 1986, Prime Minister, Olof Palme, was shot in central Stockholm by an unknown gunman. Sweden was plunged into shock, which resurfaced in 2003 when Foreign Minister Anna Lindh was stabbed while shopping in a Stockholm department store. Six months later a 25-year old Swede of Serbian origin, who had acted on impulse, was convicted of her murder. Neither Palme or Lindh had body guards with them at the time of the attacks. Security around top politicians has since been tightened but Sweden is still a very open country and the public has easy access to politicians.

Longer Historical Perspective

From AD500 – 1100 the realm of Sweden developed from a loose union of two main tribes – the dominant Svear in the East and the Goths in the West. The Vikings (AD700-1000) colonised the Eastern Baltic, trading and raiding as far as Constantinople. Finland was incorporated in the 13th century and remained a Swedish dependency for 500 years. In 1397 Sweden joined the Kalmar Union together with Norway and Denmark under the Danish Crown. It finally broke away in 1523 to establish its own monarchy under King Gustav Vasa.

For the next 200 years Sweden engaged in almost continuous wars with its neighbours in a struggle to gain and assert its Baltic supremacy. Defeat in the Great Nordic War against Denmark, Saxony, Poland and Russia (1698-1720) led to dismemberment of the Swedish empire and eclipse of its great power ambitions.

During the Napoleonic Wars (1805-1814) Sweden was allied to Britain against France. By the Treaty of Kiel in 1814 Sweden ceded Finland to Russia but gained control of Norway from Denmark.

The 19th century was a period of liberal reforms, population growth and rapid industrialisation. It saw the rise of Pan-Scandinavian nationalism and Norwegian separatism. In 1865 Sweden replaced the traditional Four estates by a bicameral assembly (reduced to one chamber in 1971). In 1905 Norway withdrew from union with Sweden.

During World War One (1914-8) Sweden remained neutral along with Norway and Denmark. In 1920 the first Social Democrat government took office. And from 1932 the Social Democrats were to remain continuously in power for 44 years. During World War Two (1939-45) Sweden again remained neutral but – until 1943 – conceded Nazi Germany transit facilities for arms and troops.

In 1949 Sweden decided not to join NATO, in contrast to Norway, Denmark and Iceland. Instead it developed its present doctrine of neutrality supported by self-reliance in defence. In 1952 with Iceland, Denmark and Norway, Sweden founded the Nordic Council (Finland joined later in 1955).

BBC Timeline of Sweden