|
Country
Identification |
Kingdom of Sweden |
|
Language(s)
|
Swedish, small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities
English widely spoken |
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Religion(s)
|
Lutheran 87% and other Christian denominations, also Muslim, Jewish and
Buddhist minorities |
|
Political System
|
Constitutional monarchy |
|
Currency |
Swedish Krona |
|
Geographical Information |
Capital: Stockholm ; 21 counties.
Northern Europe, between Norway and Finland.
Climate: temperate in south with cold cloudy winters and cool summers;
subarctic in north.
Mostly flat or rolling lowlands, mountains in west; northern 60% of
country is sparsely populated and covered in forest and rivers. 7000 km of
coastline cut by fjords. 100,000 lakes. |
|
Typical Food and drinks |
Fish usually poached or fried in lard, pickled herring are very popular
and potatoes are indispensible. Potatoes are used to produce aquavit.
Alcohol is sold only in the state monopoly outlets (Systembolaget) |
|
Holidays and Festivals |
National holiday: Flag Day, 6 June
Midsummer Day: Saturday between June 20 and 26.
Lucia Festival (13 December)
Walpurgis Night (30 April)
May Day (1 May)
Most Christian holidays: Easter, Christmas Day, Boxing Day.
Summer school holidays from mid-June to mid-August.
The general industrial holiday is in the month of July. |
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History
|
Viking age began in 9th century accumulating vast wealth and
power. Christianity established in 11th century. Union of
Kalmar with Norway and Denmark in 1397. Swedish rebellion under Gustaf
Vasa, crowned in 1532, and began powerful centralised nation-state. Sweden
took over control of much of Finland and the Baltic States. 1809 revolt
against monarchy. Establishment of a constitution dividing power between
king and parliament. In 1814 military forced union with Norway. 1.2
million Swedes (20% of population) migrated to America in late 19th
and early 20th centuries
An armed neutrality was preserved in both World Wars. Social Democrats
introduced the welfare state in 1932 and continued till 1970s. Economic
pressures caused loss of support for the Social Democrats particularly
after the assassination of Prime Minister Olaf Palmer in 1991. Sweden’s
long-successful economic formula of a capitalist system with substantial
welfare elements was challenged in the 1990s by high unemployment, rising
maintenance costs, and a declining position in world markets. Sweden
joined the EU in 1995. The introduction of the euro was rejected in 1990
and also in a referendum in 2003 |
|
Art and culture |
Literature: August Strindberg, Astrid Lindgren (children’s books),
Vilhelm Moberg, Carl Michael Bellmann
Science: Alfred Nobel (the Nobel Prizes) and Carl von Linne
Music Abba
|
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Dos and don´ts for visiting the country |
Don’t drink any alcohol if you plan to drive—this law is strictly
enforced, as are the speed limits. Drive with headlights on.
Tipping is generally not necessary. |
|
Population and
% of foreign population /minorities |
Population 8.8 million
Indigenous population: Swedes 90%, Fins 3% and Sami 0.15%.
Foreign-born first-generation immigrants: Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes,
Norwegians, Greeks, Turks.
Aliens total 530,000. Largest group comes from the Nordic countries,
followed by Asians, Africans, S. Americans, and N. Americans. |
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Main Integration Problems
|
Large scale immigration to Sweden after World War 11 because of labour
shortages. Since 1970s mainly political refugees.
A generous refugee policy; second largest number of asylum seekers in
Europe. A multicultural approach has led to ethnic enclaves in cities and
small towns.
High density immigrant populations in suburbs of big cities.
1990s reaction against immigration policy with rising competition for
jobs. Xenophobia and discrimination from employers and general population.
No racist political parties in Sweden and anti-discrimination
legislation passed in 1986. |
