Sweden


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The Kingdom of Sweden (Konungariket Sverige in Swedish) is a Nordic country
in Scandinavia, in Northern Europe. It is bordered by Norway on the west and
Finland in the northeast; the rest of it borders waters, as the Baltic Sea
and Kattegat. Due to the relatively small number of inhabitants, Sweden's
landscape is known for its peace and the large forests and mountanous wilderness.

                                          Royal motto: Fšr Sverige i tiden
                                          (For Sweden - With the times)
                                          Capital          Stockholm
History                                   King             Carl XVI Gustav
                                          Prime Minister   Gšran Persson
                                          Area             Ranked 54th
Conclusive archaeological evidence        Ê- Total         449,964 km2
exists that the area now comprising       Ê- % water       8.67%
Sweden was settled during the Stone Age,  Population       Ranked 82nd
as the inland ice of the last ice age     Ê- Total (2000)  8,875,053
receded. The earliest inhabitants are     Ê- Density       20/km²
thought to have been hunters and          Unification:     900-1200
gatherers, living primarily off what the
sea (later called the Baltic Sea) could   Currency         Swedish krona
offer.                                    Time zone        UTC +1

Some evidence supports the theory that    National anthem  Du gamla, Du
southern Sweden was densely populated                      fria
during the Bronze Age, as remains of      Internet TLD     .SE
large trading communities from this       Calling Code     46
period have been found.

During the 9th and 10th century, the Viking culture flourished in Sweden,
with trade, raiding and colonisation primarily going eastward, to the Baltic
states, Russia and the Black Sea.

In the 1389, the three countries of Norway, Denmark and Sweden were united
under a single monarch. The Kalmar Union was entered into as a personal, not
a political union, and during the 15th century, Sweden resisted attempts to
centralise rule under the Danish king, even to the point of armed rebellion.
Sweden subsequently broke away in 1523, when Gustav Eriksson Vasa, later
known as Gustav I of Sweden re-established separation of the Swedish Crown
from the union.

The 17th century saw Sweden emerge as one of the great powers in Europe, due
to successful participation, initiated by King Gustavus Adolphus, in the
Thirty Years' War. This position would crumble in the the 18th century when
Russia took the reins of northern Europe in the Great Northern War, and
eventually in 1809, splitting off the eastern half of Sweden, thereby
creating Finland as a Russian Grand Duchy.

Recent Swedish history has been peaceful, the last war being the Campaign
against Norway 1814 establishing a Sweden-dominated personal union with
Norway. The union was peacefully dissolved in 1905, despite some
sabre-rattling. Sweden remained a neutral country during World War I and
World War II (with exception for the Winter War).

The first ceremony to award the Nobel Prize was held at the Old Royal
Academy of Music in Stockholm in 1901; beginning in 1902, the prizes have
been formally awarded by the King of Sweden.

Politics

Sweden has been a monarchy for almost a millennium with supply controlled by
the parliament (the taxed peasantry constituting one of four chambers. In
1866) became bicameral, with the Fšrsta Kammar (First Chamber) indirectly
elected by local councillors, and the Andra Kammar (Second Chamber) directly
elected. Executive power was shared between the King and a noble Privy
Council until 1680, followed by the King's autocratic rule initiated by the
common estates of the Parliament. As a reaction to the failed Great Northern
War Parliamentarism was introduced in 1719, followed by three different
flavours of Constitutional Monarchy in 1772, 1789 and 1809, the latter
granting several civil liberties.

Parliamentarism was re-introduced in 1917 as king Gustaf V, after decades of
struggle, accepted appointing Cabinets supported by majorities in the
Parliament, followed by common and equal suffrage enacted 1918-21.
Parliamentarism was upheld by his successor Gustav VI Adolf until a new
constitution in 1975 abolished the monarch's political power. The monarch
remains as the formal, but merely a symbolic, head of state with mainly
ceremonial duties.

Social Democracy has played a dominant political role since 1917, after
Reformists had confirmed their strength and the Revolutionaries left the
party. Social Democratic influence over society and government is often
described as Hegemony. After 1932 the Cabinets have been led and dominated
by the Social Democrats except for: a few summer months 1936; six years
1976-1982; and three years 1991-1994.

In 1971, the Parliament or Riksdag became unicameral. Constitutionally, the
349-member, Riksdag holds supreme authority in Sweden. It may alter the
constitution and its acts are not subject to judicial review. Legislation
may be initiated by the Cabinet or by members of Parliament. Members are
elected on the basis of proportional representation for a four-year term.

The Constitution can be altered by the Riksdag, which requires qualified
majority and confirmation after the following general elections.

The judicial system is divided between courts with regular civil and
criminal jurisdiction and special courts with responsibility for litigation
between the public and Government or Municipal authorities. Swedish law is
codified and its court system consists of local courts, regional appellate
courts, and a Supreme Court.

Counties

Sweden is divided into 21 counties or lŠn. In each county there is a County
Administrative Board or lŠnsstyrelse which is appointed by the Government.
In each county there is also a separate County Council or landsting, which
is the municipal representation appointed by the county electorate. Each
county further divides into a number of municipalities or kommuner, making a
total of 289 municipalities, in 2002. There are also older historical
divisions of the Swedish Realm, primarily into provinces and lands.

   * Blekinge
   * Dalarna
   * Gotland
   * GŠvleborg
   * Halland
   * JŠmtland
   * Jšnkšping
   * Kalmar
   * Kronoberg
   * Norrbotten
   * SkŒne
   * Stockholm
   * Sšdermanland
   * Uppsala
   * VŠrmland
   * VŠsterbotten
   * VŠsternorrland
   * VŠstmanland
   * VŠstra Gštaland
   * ...rebro
   * ...stergštland

Geography

Sweden enjoys a mostly temperate climate despite its northern latitude,
mainly due to the Gulf stream. In the south of Sweden leaf-bearing trees are
prolific, in the north ferns and hardy birches dominate the landscape. In
the mountains of northern Sweden a sub-arctic climate predominates. In the
part of the country north of the Arctic Circle the sun never sets during the
summer, and in the winter night is unending.

East of Sweden is the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia, providing a long
coastline, and yet further mellowing the climate. To the west are the
Scandinavian mountain chain, a range that separates Sweden from Norway.

The southern part of the country is chiefly agricultural, with forests
covering an increasing percentage of the land the further north one goes.
Population density is also higher in southern Sweden, with centers being in
the valley of lake MŠlaren and the ...resund region.

Gotland and ...land are the two largest Islands of Sweden.

Economy

Aided by peace and neutrality for the whole 20th century, Sweden has
achieved an enviable standard of living under a mixed system of high-tech
capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. It has a modern distribution
system, excellent internal and external communications, and a skilled labour
force. Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of an
economy heavily oriented toward foreign trade.

Privately-owned firms account for about 90% of industrial output, of which
the engineering sector accounts for 50% of output and exports. Agriculture
accounts for only 2% of GDP and 2% of the jobs. The government's commitment
to fiscal discipline resulted in a substantial budgetary surplus in 2001,
which was cut by more than half in 2002, due to the global economic
slowdown, revenue declines, and spending increases. The Swedish Riksbank is
focusing on price stability with its inflation target of 2%. Growth should
pick up to 2.3% in 2003, assuming a moderate global recovery.

The Communications and Transportation systems of Sweden are important
components of the infrastructure.

Demographics

Culture

Swedish 20th century culture is noted by pioneering works in the early days
of cinema, with Mauritz Stiller and Victor Sjšstršm. Later on, moguls like
Ingmar Bergman and actresses such as Greta Garbo, Ingrid Bergman and Anita
Ekberg made careers abroad.

Swedish music is in many minds connected with ABBA, although more recently
indie bands like Soundtrack of our lives and The Hives have started
achieving international fame.

Swedish literature is also vibrant and active, Sweden ranking third in the
list of countries with most Nobel Prize laureates in literature.

Holidays

The Swedish holiday calendar consists mainly of Christian holidays. Many of
these are however a continuation of pre-christian customs, such as Midsummer
and Walpurgis Night. Apart from official holidays and a few de facto
holidays there are also official flag day observances and minor observances
in the namesday calendar.

      Date       English Name       Local Name              Remarks

 January 1      New Year's     NyŒrsdagen           Ê
                Day
 January 6      Epiphany       Trettondagen         Ê

 Moveable FridayGood Friday    LŒngfredag           The Friday before
                                                    Easter Sunday
 Moveable SundayEaster Sunday  PŒskdagen            Ê

 Moveable MondayEaster Monday  Annandag pŒsk        The day after Easter
                                                    Sunday

 May 1          May Day        Fšrsta maj           See also Walpurgis
                                                    Night
 Moveable                      Kristi
 Thursday       Ascension Day  himmelsfŠrdsdag      40 days after Easter
 Moveable SundayPentecost      Pingstdagen          50 days after Easter
 Moveable MondayWhitmonday     Annandag Pingst      51 days after Easter
 Third Friday of                                    Non official - however
 June           Midsummer Eve  Midsommarafton       a de facto full holiday
 Third Saturday
 of June        Midsummer Day  Midsommardagen       Ê
 First Saturday All Saints
 of November    Day            Alla helgons dag     Moved from November 1

 December 24    Christmas Eve  Julafton             Non official - however
                                                    a de facto full holiday
 December 25    Christmas Day  Juldagen             Ê
 December 26    Boxing Day     Annandag jul         Ê

 December 31    New Year's     NyŒrsafton           Non official - however
                Eve                                 a de facto full holiday
                                                    Official holidays -
 All Sundays    Ê              Ê                    names follow the
                                                    Liturgical year