Introduction
The official name of Sweden is the Kingdom of Sweden. (Country.eiu.com) Sweden is located in the Northern portion of Europe and is a Scandinavian country. It borders the countries of Norway and Finland. Denmark is also nearby. Sweden is also the third largest country, in terms of physical size, in the European Union. The capital and largest city is Stockholm. Sweden has been a constitutional monarchy since 1809 and this continues to be the current government today. In 1921, universal suffrage was granted to all people of at least 18 years of age in Sweden. It sustains “one of the world’s most advanced social-welfare systems,” mostly due to the type of legislation that came about in the “post-war period.” (Country.eiu.com) This paper will focus on the type of government that Sweden practices and the country functions today.
Historical and cultural background
Sweden’s first inhabitants came sometime after the Ice Age. Around 8,000 BC, colder weather caused people to move out and leave the area. Then, thousands of years later, people returned back to the land. The extreme changes in the weather are an important part of the culture of Sweden. A lot of Sweden’s history also comes from the Vikings, which played an important role in types of trade and trade paths. During the Thirty Years’ War, Sweden’s government bureaucracy and financial system was developed. Gustav Vasa was an important Swedish monarch who helped establish “the foundations of the Swedish nation state in the early sixteenth century.” (Geographia.com) Gustavus Adolphus was another important figure that helped Sweden reach “a great power status” and gain many possessions. “One result of that experience has been a deep commitment to neutrali...
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...Press, 2004. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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They lived with a different lifestyle then other religions, always on the move, adjusting to climates, doing what it took to not just survive but also attempt conquering during the medieval times of Scandinavia. The present day countries of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark made up Scandinavia. The Norsemen first made a name for themselves around 750 for their bloody, violent raids in Europe. Norsemen and Northern men are other names for Vikings. The Vikings took advantage of their unique ways of survival and daily life techniques to new heights during the Viking Age. They were highly skilled builders; they built ships durable enough to take on the ocean. Vikings were the most intelligent navigators in their day, which eventually made them tremendous traders. The Vikings decided to quit their big armies of violence, stopped raiding and began farming and trading instead. Their last raid was England before deciding to give up their violent ways. When Scandinavians started practicing Christianity, some Vikings headed east to Russia, some moved to France, most headed to England’s coast, Ireland, or the islands above Scotland. The Norwegian Vikings were the first population in Europe to move west. “Stepping across the North Atlantic, Norse Colonists reached the Faeroe Islands by around AD 825, Iceland by around AD 875, and Greenland by around AD 895. Both Iceland and the Faeroe Islands were uninhabited at the time of the Norse colonization” (Gestsdottir and Price 130). The Vikings during the medieval period were a very powerful force. They got themselves out of the control of the Norwegian king, they were very good craftsman, and used many resources.
The title "Viking" includes a wide description of Nordic people; Danes, Swedes, and Norwegians, who lived during a period of
Scandinavia is a vast region with many musical traditions and practices. Although Scandinavian music has very traditional roots, a large amount of modern music has also come out of this region; much of which was influenced by traditional music and practices of the Scandinavian people. Firstly, It’s important to note that Scandinavia is comprised of a variety of countries: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland. Although these countries are in different geographical locations, they are similar in their cultures. Many of the countries in the Scandinavian region hold onto at least some of their traditional practices, and they often share common factors such as instrumentation, dancing, and vocal styles with other Scandinavian countries. Over time, most if not all of these countries have developed their traditional practices into modern ones and some have even become well known to other ethnic groups outside of Scandinavia.
The establishment of royal authority in Scandinavia was the first of many steps leading to the downfall of
Charles XII had been ruling Sweden as a divine right monarch. Absolutism brought him total power and with it responsibility. The responsibility to protect his people and strengthen the glory and greatness of Sweden, but both these responsibilities he failed to comply, and left was a poor, betrayed, miserable people with nothing but despise towards the state, and in particular absolutism as a form of government. The time of absolutism in Sweden was over, while the beginning of parliamentary reforms was taking its course.
This form of government can be achieved as it is currently successful in some European countries. Health care to these Socialist countries is a natural born right, as well as education. Women are given paid maternity leave, and college is affordable and sometimes even free in the Socialist countries of Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Mexico, and Brazil. Recently, Britain’s “success of the welfare state strikes at the dynamic which has driven Socialism forward in the past and brought it widespread support” (Davis 505). in Sweden, the Swedish Social Democratic Party remains to be one of the most successful socialist forms of government.
Sweden is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary form of government. According to the Swedish Constitution, all public power derives from the people. Sweden's head of state, the King, has only ceremonial functions. The top branch of the national government is the Parliament, which has 349 members in one chamber.
Reynolds, A., B. Reilly and A.Ellis. 2008. Electoral System Design: The New International IDEA Handbook. Sweden: Trydells Tryckeri AB.
Sweden’s terrain features cover a lot of snow, ice and water. The last Ice Age left a thick layer of ice to be melted away (worldatlas). Sweden is divided into three regions; the north is mountainous, central is lowland to east and
The Swedish Criminal Justice System is one by comparison to other countries, a well oiled machine. Before recognizing the aspects of the criminal justice system of Sweden, there is some history that has to be brought into the light. Sweden and Finland are very similar in comparison, whether that is the close geographical position of both countries or the similarities of cultures or maybe due to the fact that they are both apart of the Nordic Welfare State. Sweden and Finland both have the world’s oldest homicide statistics, which started in the mid-1700’s. Sweden, like many other countries has been through multiple political-social changes and developments throughout the last few centuries. They did not participate in either of the World Wars,
The power structure of Norway is probably one of the few areas that are quite different from that of most other free countries. Norway is a constitutional monarchy. The king has limited authority, except as head of the military and as a symbol of continuity and stability. Executive power is vested in the prime minister, who presides over the dominant party in the country’s parliament (Storting). The 165 members of parliament are elected every four years. The Storting has an Upper Chamber (Lagting) and a Lower Chamber (Odelsting). The Labor, Center, and Conservative parties are the largest in parliament, but no party has a majority. Another similar note is that all citizens may vote at age 18. Norway also has 19 provinces (fylker). Norway enjoys a strong economy, and has one of the highest standards of living in the world.
The Denmark Government is a constitutional monarchy system. The government of Denmark is based on the parliamentary system and it is representative democratic. The head of government is controlled by the Prime Minister. Denmark is a multi-party system so that there is no single party since the beginning of the 20th century in Denmark. The parties members will be represent their parties in the parliament. Hence, the Danish parliament tends to be more powerful than legislatures in others countries. The constitution of the Denmark is not grant to the judiciary power of judicial review of legislation; however the courts have asserted this power with the consent of the other branches of government. Moreover, the government of Denmark has two arms, the government and the Folketing. The choice of the candidates depends on the majority votes of the person who has received from the respective constituency and also on his local connection. However, the change of political system has started when Fogh Rasmussen has won his first general election on 20 November 2001 and became the Prime Minister...
During that time, the kingdoms Denmark, Norway and Sweden were joined under one rule. They had a common monarch who was queen Margaret I. of Denmark. She was also the founder of the Kalmar Union and the capital was Copenhagen. The more official marking of this unification happened in the Swedish city of Kalmar. The coronation of Eric of Pomerania took place and he was made to rule over all three countries in 1397. ‘The realm had a size of 3,000,000 sq. kilometers in 1397.’
Compare the situation in the 1960s with the situation in Sweden today. Is there segregation in Sweden? In Eskilstuna? Is there discrimination in Sweden? In Eskilstuna? If so, what similarities and differences can you see? On what grounds are people being segregated