Fall 1995 484/485 Sweden

Sweden

The history and culture of Sweden are both products of its geographic location and geographic conditions. Being a part of the larger region of Scandinavia contributes directly to the condition of the country, both as a member of this region and as an individual nation. Sweden occupies the eastern half of a peninsula which reaches southward between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. This peninsula is shared with Norway, the two countries divided by a spine of mountains running down its length. From the Norwegian border, dissolved deep within this range, the land gradually becomes rolling and then flat until it slips beneath the Baltic Sea. Occasionally rising from these waters, the shoreline is defined by archipelagos and islands lying offshore. It is this edge that captures the magnitude of the nation, illuminated by the midnight sun in the north and nearly embracing Denmark in the south. Along the edge of the sea lie the two primary gateways to the country, Stockholm and Gothenburg, both lively seaports and cultural centers. Outside of the major cities, the landscape becomes controlling, exposing the country for its most treasured possession-- expanse. With a population of 9 million spread out over a land area the size of California, the land is open and sparsely settled. The density is one factor that places Sweden among the wealthiest nations in the world, with the wealth per person being the highest in the world. This is primarily due to the abundance of natural resources and the Swedish respect for them. Over half of the nation is covered with forest and woodland, growing from a ground rich in minerals such as zinc, iron, lead, copper, and silver. Between the trees is water, found in rivers and streams, as well as thousands of lakes. The water flows through the nation, from the crags of the mountains to the edge of the sea.

It is the water of the sea that allowed the expansion of Swedish trade and influence, a history that the Vikings of the 9th and 10th centuries created and is still evident today. The water edge was a launching point for the more peaceful voyages of the Swedish Vikings, the most powerful of the Scandinavian countries. The Viking Age led to the common goals among the countries of Scandinavia that led to numerous unions and dissolvements between them thereafter. The Kalmar Union of 1397 between Sweden, Norway, and Denmark was formed due to the close geographical proximity of the nations as well as the dynastic ties between them. This union lasted for 125 years before Sweden seceded and established its own dynasty. The Kalmar War began in 1611 when Denmark declared war on Sweden in an attempt to reestablish the Kalmar Union. This conflict and the Thirty Years War led up to the Peace of Copenhagen which established the modern boundaries of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway in 1660. In an attack on Denmark in 1814, after NapoleonÕs defeat at the Battle of Leipzig, Sweden forces the Danish surrender of Norway. This victory established Sweden as the sole controller of the peninsula and established a union between Sweden and Norway, despite NorwayÕs desires for independent rule. Sweden reinforced this union with the establishment of the Swedish Democratic Party in 1889. The union was dissolved in 1905 and the boundaries of the Peace of Copenhagen were restored. The attack and victory of 1814 were to be the last military actions that Swedish forces participated in until the present day. Sweden has denied membership in NATO and declared itself neutral in both World Wars. The Scandinavian countries established their own organization, The Nordic Council, in 1952. This unity was reinforced and advertised on an international level at the Expo 67 in Montreal with the creation of a Scandinavian Pavilion, themed "Man and Unity."

In many ways, the Scandinavian countries can be viewed collectively, especially considering their histories of conflict and resolution. They do, however, retain their own cultural identities and systems of values and behavior.

"The jolly and extrovert personality of the Dane is not always compatible with the more reserved and sober nature of the Swede."

There are numerous symbols of SwedenÕs unity and understanding of the other Scandinavian countries. Among these are cross-border electric services, common postage rates, and the Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS). Even visitors are treated as if they are visiting a single country, their three-month allowance beginning with the entry into any of the Scandinavian countries and continuing as borders are crossed. Sweden's own attitude toward tourists is reserved and defensive. The Swedish value the open space and nature of their country more than the 2% of the foreign earnings that visitors contribute. This attitude characterizes their careful management of the land and resources which also defines another part of Swedish culture, the respect for craft skills. Even within this technologically advanced country, the ability to manipulate glass, wood, and clay is revered and respected almost universally. This respect may have developed from the appreciation one gains from living close to their resources. The Swedes have been recognized for their aim of integrating beauty into daily living, with much the same respect of integrating daily living into a natural and beautiful environment.

On-Line Reference to Sweden

25X95
CHL