SWEDEN

GEOGRAPHY

The three traditional lands of  Sweden, GötalandSvealand, and Norrland, are further divided into 25 provinces (landskap), which largely define Swedish people’s cultural identity. The provinces mostly coincide with the 21 counties (län), the mid-level political entities. The 290 municipalities (kommun), are the bottom-level political entities, typically consisting of a town or a city, and the surrounding countryside, including small villages. Though Swedish people rarely have strong feelings for their country, most of them are patriotic for their province or hometown, and appreciate anything good that a traveller can say about them.

Norrland is a sparsely populated area spanning more than half of Sweden. Lots of wilderness, with forests, lakes, great rivers, enormous marshes and tall mountains along the border to Norway.

Svealand is the central part of the country and homeland of the Swedes, with cities such as StockholmUppsala and Örebro, and a heritage of mining and metallurgy.

Götaland is the homeland of the Geats and probable place of origin of the Goths. Many cultural and historical sights from Medieval cities and cathedrals to amusement parks, and Sweden’s largest lakes, Vänern and Vättern.

Scania is a cultural island in the Swedish landscape. Here culture, language, traditions and architecture itself are much closer to Central Europe and in particular to Denmark to which the region has belonged for centuries.

HISTORY

Ancient Swedish history is violent and dramatic, filled with war and conquests. It began with the Viking raids around 1000 AD, and continued with frequent military campaigns under warrior kings such as Gustav II Adolf and Karl XII.

In the 1600s, Sweden was one of Europe’s great powers, with territories stretching over large parts of the Baltic region. By the 1700s, Sweden had become so impoverished by all the fighting that it had to achieve peace if the country was to survive. Sweden has lived in peace since 1814. Sweden is one of the few European countries that was not involved in the two world wars. Since World War II, Sweden has become known for its role in promoting international peace. Sweden’s centuries of peace are one of the most important factors in the country’s development and prosperity. 

 

Recent history

In 1992, a run on the currency caused the central bank to briefly increase interest rates to 500%. The response of the government was to cut spending and institute a multitude of reforms to improve Sweden’s competitiveness, among them reducing the welfare state and privatising public services and goods. Much of the political establishment promoted EU membership, and a referendum passed with 52.3% in favour of joining the EU on 13 November 1994. Sweden joined the European Union on 1 January 1995. In a 2003 referendum the Swedish electorate voted against the country joining the Euro currency. In 2006 Sweden got its first majority government for decades as the centre-right Alliance defeated the incumbent Social Democrat government. Following the rapid growth of support for the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, and their entrance to the Riksdag in 2010, the Alliance became a minority cabinet. Sweden remains non-aligned militarily, although it participates in some joint military exercises with NATO and some other countries, in addition to extensive co-operation with other European countries in the area of defence technology and defence industry. Sweden also has a long history of participating in international military operations, including Afghanistan, where Swedish troops are under NATO command, and in EU sponsored peacekeeping operations in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Cyprus. Sweden also participated in enforcing a UN mandated no-fly zone over Libya during the Arab Spring. Sweden held the chair of the European Union from 1 July to 31 December 2009. In recent decades Sweden has become a more culturally diverse nation due to significant immigration; in 2013 it was estimated that 15 per cent of the population was foreign-born, and an additional 5 per cent of the population were born to two immigrant parents. Violent incidents have periodically occurred including the 2013 Stockholm riots which broke out following the police shooting of an elderly Portuguese immigrant. In response to these violent events, the anti-immigration opposition party, the Sweden Democrats, promoted their anti-immigration policies, while the left-wing opposition blamed growing inequality caused by the centre-right government’s socioeconomic policies. 

In 2014, Stefan Löfven (Social Democrats) won the General Election and became the new Swedish Prime Minister. The Sweden Democrats held the balance of power and voted the government’s budget down in the Riksdag, but due to agreements between the government and the Alliance, the government was able to hang onto power. Sweden was heavily affected by the 2015 European migrant crisis, eventually forcing the government to tighten regulations of entry to the country.

SOCIAL CULTURE AND RELIGION

Swedes can sometimes seem a bit reserved at first, but people are generally very friendly and are always happy to help and to answer any questions you might have. A good way to get to know Swedish people is to join Swedish societies, clubs, associations and non-profit organisations. Learning some Swedish language is also a good way to experience more of the culture. A well-known national characteristic is the love of nature. Many Swedes like to spend their free time in the forest or by the sea. In Sweden nature is really available to everyone as there is a right of common access which applies to all forests, fields, beaches and lakes across the country.

Being punctual is important to Swedes; arriving just prior to an appointment, but not too early! Forming an orderly queue is expected of everyone when waiting to be served in a shop or bank, for example.  Almost no excuse is good enough to get in front of the people who arrived before you. Many places use a system of “queuing tickets”, whereby you take a number from a ticket machine when you first enter the store. When your number shows on the screen, or the shop assistant calls your number, it is your turn. Taking off your shoes off before entering the home of a Swedish family is a common act of courtesy, especially in winter. Some Swedes bring a lighter pair of clean shoes to wear indoors when visiting people.

It is also customary to have a small present for the host to say thank you for their hospitality, when invited for dinner or other occasions. When you next see the host, it is then customary to thank them again ‘tack för senast’.

Food

Meatballs and pickled herring, anyone? Of the many culinary classics in Sweden, one of the most popular is meatballs served with potatoes and lingonberries a staple meal that is served in many homes around the country.Another classic dish is pickled herring (sill), which is served at all festivities. Whether it is Christmas, Easter or Midsummer, no important celebration meal is complete without pickled erring. Fresh, pickled and smoked seafood (particularly herring, crayfish, salmon and eel), game meats such as elk and reindeer as well as berries and currants (including the ligonberry), are all typical ingredients used in Swedish cuisine. In Lund, Malmö and Helsingborg you will find a growing international food scene, with restaurants offering Thai, Greek, Persian, Indian, Italian and American cuisine. Specialist food stores selling ethnic ingredients are also located in the cities so you can create a taste of your home country here in Sweden.

‘Fika’ – coffee break

Of all the words to learn when you come to Sweden, “fika” is one you will quickly pick up. Swedes love to “fika”, meaning to take a coffee break. Coffee breaks usually involve pastries (especially cinnamon buns), biscuits or sandwiches and the all important coffee; Sweden is the second largest consumer of coffee.

Swedish traditions

Valborg

Walpurgis Night on 30 April, when large bonfires are lit across the country as symbols of the passing of winter and the approach of spring.

Midsummer

The midsummer celebrations take place in June, on the longest day of the year. This is a day filled with parties and dancing around the traditional maypole that is decorated with birch leaves and wild flowers. Midsummer and Christmas are the most important celebrations in Sweden.

Kräftskiva (Crayfish Party)

As the summer draws to an end, crayfish parties with snapps and singing are very popular.

Religion

Religion in Sweden is diversified. Christianity was the religion of virtually all of the Swedish population from the 12th to the early 20th century, but it has rapidly declined throughout the late 20th and early 21st century. In 2015, legally registered Christians comprised 69.9% of the total population. The Lutheran Church of Sweden  which was the state religion until 2000 has a registered membership of 5.9 million Swedish citizens as of 2018, equal to 57.7% of the total population. One reason for the high membership might be the fact that until 1996 all newborns with at least one parent being a member of the Church of Sweden were also registered as members of the church. Yet the membership is declining rapidly, about 1% each year, for the most recent years even 2%, falling from 95% in 1970 and 85% in 2000. 

Prior to their Christianisation that became complete around the 12th century, the Swedes practised forms of Norse religion. At first they became part of the Catholic Church; then, from the 1530s, Sweden switched to Lutheranism as part of the Protestant Reformation which converted most of Germanic Europe; the Church of Sweden was formed and remained the official religion of the Christian state until the turn of the 21st century. The 21st century brought with itself a rapid decline of Christianity overall, the disestablishment of the Church of Sweden, and the modest growth of other religions, often brought by waves of immigration from outside the country. These last include Catholicism, Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and other Eastern religions.

POLITICS

A parliamentary democracy

In Sweden, general elections are held every four years. Around 7 million people are entitled to vote and thereby influence which political party will represent them in the Swedish parliament (the Riksdag), county councils and municipalities. People can also influence Swedish politics in other ways – by taking part in referendums, joining a political party or commenting on reports presented by the government.

The Swedish Constitution

The Swedish Constitution defines how Sweden is governed. It regulates the relationships between decision-making and executive power, and the basic rights and freedoms of citizens. Four fundamental laws make up the Constitution: the Instrument of Government, the Act of Succession, the Freedom of the Press Act and the Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression. The fundamental laws take precedence over all other statutes. Among other things, the Instrument of Government guarantees citizens the right to obtain information freely, hold demonstrations, form political parties and practice their religion. The Act of Succession regulates the right of members of the House of Bernadotte, the royal family, to accede to the Swedish throne. The Freedom of the Press Act sets out the principle of public access to official documents relating to the work of the parliament, the government and public agencies. This law allows people to study official documents whenever they wish. The Law on Freedom of Expression, which came into force in 1992, largely mirrors the Freedom of the Press Act, in regards to the prohibition of censorship, the freedom to communicate information and the right to anonymity.

The government at work

The government rules Sweden by implementing the decisions of the parliament and by formulating new laws or law amendments, on which the parliament decides. The government is assisted in this task by the Government Offices and the Swedish government agencies (345 in total, as of 2018). The cabinet as a whole is responsible for all government decisions. Although many routine matters are in practice decided by individual ministers and only formally approved by the government, the principle of collective responsibility is reflected in all governmental work. As part of its official functions, the government:

  • presents bills to the parliament
  • implements parliament decisions
  • allocates the funds appropriated by the parliament for expenditure on items in the budget represents Sweden in the EU enters into agreements with other states takes decisions in certain administrative areas not covered by other authorities directs the activities and operations of the executive branch.

ECONOMY

Sweden’s per capita gross national product (GNP) is among the highest in the world, but so are its taxes. Most enterprises are privately owned and market-oriented, but when transfer payments—such as pensions, sick pay, and child allowances—are included, roughly three-fifths of gross domestic product (GDP) passes through the public sector. Education, health care, and child care costs are primarily met by taxation. Government involvement in the distribution of national income, however, diminished over the last two decades of the 20th century. With the value of exports amounting to about one-third of its GDP, Sweden is highly dependent on free international trade to maintain its living standard. In 1991 Sweden attached its currency, the krona, to the ecu (European currency unit, replaced in 1999 by the euro), but in 1992 Sweden abandoned its peg to the ecu and allowed the krona valuation to float. Sweden’s currency remained independent even after the country became a full member of the European Union (EU) in 1995. In 1999 an executive board of Sweden’s Riksbank was established to set monetary policy and sustain price stability. Sweden also has to cope with problems of competitiveness that have caused industry to invest much more abroad than at home. Most of Sweden’s large industrial companies are transnational, and some employ more people abroad than in Sweden, where production costs are high. Over the following 50 years, Sweden became one of the richest countries in the world. Record economic development was strongly tied to the building of railways providing access to natural resources such as forests, iron ore and hydropower in northern Sweden, assets that are still considered the traditional basis of the Swedish economy. This development is often referred to as ‘the Swedish economic miracle’. Sweden’s gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, at SEK 373,000, roughly USD 57,000 (2015), is among the highest in the world. It can be compared with other countries’ GDP per capita (2015).

TRADE AND EXPORT

Exports account for about one-third of Sweden’s GDP. The emphasis has shifted from export of raw materials and semimanufactured products (pulp, steel, sawn wood) to finished goods, dominated by engineering products (cars, telecommunications equipment, hydroelectric power plant equipment) and, increasingly, high technology and chemical- and biotechnology. Together, Germany, the United Kingdom, Norway, Finland, and Denmark account for about two-fifths of Sweden’s export market.

Imports are more diversified than exports. Before the 1980s petroleum was the single most important import, accounting for more than one-fourth of the total value. In 1990 petroleum accounted for less than 5 percent of the total. Almost half comes from the import of engineering products (including motor vehicles, business machines, and computer equipment). Among the imported foodstuffs are coffee, tea, fruit, and fish. Chemicals and textiles are other groups of imported goods. Germany is the main supplier of Sweden’s imports, followed by the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Belgium.

– With a small domestic market, it was clear from the start that major Swedish companies needed to export to customers around the world. This early globalisation has given Swedish companies an advantage in international competition.

– Considering its small population, a surprisingly large number of multinational export companies and brands have their origin in Sweden. Many were founded during a period of rapid economic development in the first half of the 1900s, including  Volvo, AstraZeneca, ABB, IKEA, Ericsson, Electrolux, H&M, Saab and Absolut.

– Today Sweden’s most important exports are machinery and transport equipment; wood and paper products; chemicals and plastic products; industrial machinery; electronics and telecommunications equipment and services; minerals; and heavy vehicles.

– Basic industry, steel and paper production still account for 20 per cent of export income. The majority (68 per cent in 2012), however, comes from mechanical engineering industries.

– Swedish industry has become increasingly research-intensive and is characterised by a high level of technological development. 

Sweden is the 31st largest export economy in the world and the 5th most complex economy according to the Economic Complexity Index (ECI). In 2017, Sweden exported $143B and imported $141B, resulting in a positive trade balance of $2.28B. In 2017 the GDP of Sweden was $538B and its GDP per capita was $50.2k.

The top exports of Sweden are Cars ($8.87B), Refined Petroleum ($7.86B), Packaged Medicaments ($6.12B), Vehicle Parts ($5.48B) and Delivery Trucks ($3.24B), using the 1992 revision of the HS (Harmonized System) classification. Its top imports are Cars ($9.2B), Crude Petroleum ($7B), Vehicle Parts ($6.24B), Refined Petroleum ($5.83B) and Broadcasting Equipment ($4.09B). The top export destinations of Sweden are Germany ($16.1B), Denmark ($10.4B), Norway($10.1B), the United States ($9.8B) and the United Kingdom ($8.89B). The top import origins are Germany ($27.3B), the Netherlands($11.9B), Denmark ($9.6B), Norway ($9B) and Belgium-Luxembourg ($7.58B).

Sweden borders Finland and Norway by land and Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Russia by sea.

 

Exports

In 2017 Sweden exported $143B, making it the 31st largest exporter in the world. During the last five years the exports of Sweden have decreased at an annualized rate of -2.8%, from $165B in 2012 to $143B in 2017. The most recent exports are led by Cars which represent 6.17% of the total exports of Sweden, followed by Refined Petroleum, which account for 5.46%.

Sectors of the future

– Knowledge-intensive industries such as IT, biotechnology and biomedicine, as well as environmental technology are expected to grow in importance.

– The ‘creative’ industries of design, fashion, music and gastronomy are also growing. Sweden has experienced a creative revolution over the past decade that has attracted worldwide attention and produced substantial new export income. 

– The Swedish capital of Stockholm in particular has received a great deal of coverage in international media in recent years as one of the top locations for fashion, music, trends and an urban lifestyle, alongside world cities such as London, Paris, Milan and New York. This has also boosted inbound tourism.

– Tourism in Sweden has grown dramatically over the past two decades, and its annual value is now estimated at SEK 105.7 billion (2013).

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Sweden’s 2019 Statement of Foreign Policy identified three priorities: the promotion of democracy, shared responsibility for peace and security, and active diplomacy. Other areas of focus include climate change, development assistance, human rights and the multilateral trade system. Equality between women and men is a fundamental aim of Swedish foreign policy. In October 2014, Sweden became the first country in the world to launch a feminist foreign policy. Sweden is committed to strengthening women’s rights, representation and access to resources. Sweden is also a vocal advocate for women’s participation in peace and security efforts. In December 2015, Sweden released the Swedish Foreign Service action plan for feminist foreign policy 2015-2018. Sweden also released its feminist foreign policy handbook in August 2018 as a resource for international work relating to gender equality and for sharing lessons that Sweden learned from the first years of its feminist foreign policy. An active commitment to the United Nations has been a cornerstone of Sweden’s foreign policy since it became a member in 1946. On 28 June 2016, Sweden was elected by a wide margin as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2017–2018 term. Priorities included supporting international law, human rights and gender equality. In June 2017, Sweden co-hosted (with Fiji) the UN Oceans Conference in New York. Sweden joined the EU in 1995, following a referendum in which a narrow 52 per cent of electors voted in favour. In a referendum in September 2003 the Swedes rejected joining the Eurozone by 56 per cent. Sweden has a long-held policy of non-participation in military alliances, although its security doctrine was revised to allow cooperation with other countries to ’secure regional and international peace and security.’ Sweden became a NATO Partner for Peace in 1994 and an Enhanced Opportunity Partner in 2014 (along with Australia, Finland, Georgia and Jordan). Sweden has contributed military forces to NATO-led operations in Afghanistan since the end of 2001 through the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Resolute Support Mission. Sweden’s military contribution to the Global Coalition to Counter Daesh is through the military training mission in northern Iraq. Every three years, Sweden is the lead nation for the EU’s Nordic Battlegroup, a coalition of seven Nordic and Baltic nations whose mission is to be ready to contribute to the EU’s crisis management capability. Nordic-Baltic cooperation is an important aspect of Sweden’s foreign policy. Along with Finland, Sweden joined the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) in June 2017, tasked with tackling threats and responding to crises around the world and encompassing eight like-minded northern European partners.

 

United Nation

Sweden has been a member of the United Nations since November 19, 1946, and participates actively in the activities of the organization, including as an elected member of the Security Council (1957–1958, 1975–1976, 1997–1998 and 2017–2018), providing Dag Hammarskjöld as the second elected Secretary-General of the UN, etc. The strong interest of the Swedish Government and people in international cooperation and peacemaking has been supplemented in the early 1980s by renewed attention to Nordic and European security questions.

Sweden decided not to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. 

European Union

After the then Prime Minister Ingvar Carlsson had submitted Sweden’s application in July 1991 the negotiations began in February 1993. Finally, on January 1, 1995, Sweden became a member of the European Union. While some argued that it went against Sweden’s historic policy of neutrality, where Sweden had not joined during the Cold War because it was seen as incompatible with neutrality, others viewed the move as a natural extension of the economic cooperation that had been going on since 1972 with the EU. Sweden addressed this controversy by reserving the right not to participate in any future EU defense alliance. In membership negotiations in 1993–1994, Sweden also had reserved the right to make the final decision on whether to join the third stage of the EMU “in light of continued developments.” In a nationwide referendum in November 1994, 52.3 percent of participants voted in favour of EU membership. Voter turnout was high, 83.3 percent of the eligible voters voted. The main Swedish concerns included winning popular support for EU cooperation, EU enlargement, and strengthening the EU in areas such as economic growth, job promotion, and environmental issues.

In polls taken a few years after the referendum, many Swedes indicated that they were unhappy with Sweden’s membership in the EU. However, after Sweden successfully hosted its first presidency of the EU in the first half of 2001, most Swedes today have a more positive attitude towards the EU. The government, with the support of the Center Party, decided in spring 1997 to remain outside of the EMU, at least until 2002. A referendum was held on September 14, 2003. The results were 55.9% for no, 42.0% yes and 2.1% giving no answer (“blank vote”).

Non Alignment 

Swedish neutrality and nonalignment policy in peacetime may partly explain how the country could stay out of wars since 1814. Swedish governments have not defined nonalignment as precluding outspoken positions in international affairs. Government leaders have favored national liberation movements that enjoy broad support among developing world countries, with notable attention to Africa. During the Cold War, Sweden was suspicious of the superpowers, which it saw as making decisions affecting small countries without always consulting those countries. With the end of the Cold War, that suspicion has lessened somewhat, although Sweden still chooses to remain nonaligned. Sweden has devoted particular attention to issues of disarmament, arms control, and nuclear nonproliferation and has contributed importantly to UN and other international peacekeeping efforts, including the NATO-led peacekeeping forces in the Balkans. It sat as an observer in the Western European Union from 1995 to 2011, but it is not an active member of NATO’s Partnership for Peace and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. Sweden’s engagement with NATO was especially strengthened during the term of Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Sweden’s nonalignment policy has led it to serve as the protecting power for a number of nations who don’t have formal diplomatic relations with each other for various reasons. It currently represents the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations in North Korea for consular matters. On several occasions when the United Kingdom broke off relations with Iran (including the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the Salman Rushdie affair, and the 2012 storming of the British embassy in Tehran), Sweden served as the protecting power for the UK.