From non-alignment and social cohesion to NATO membership and gang crime

Sweden was long viewed as a society characterised by gender equality, social cohesion and an ambitious social welfare policy. With its so-called third way foreign policy, Sweden remained uninvolved in great power conflicts. In recent decades, gang crime and shootings have attracted a great deal of attention in the media, a far-right populist political party has become part of Sweden's ruling coalition, and the country has ended 200 years of neutrality by becoming a member of NATO. How has this changed Swede's view of their country and themselves?

In this anthology, a number of writers discuss people's view of Sweden then and now, both inside and outside the country's borders. Svante Nordin writes about Sweden and Luther, Elisabeth Braw considers the importance of Swedes abroad, Mikael Wiberg discusses the Swedish technology miracle, Fraser Nelson examines gang crime, and Sofia Bard analyses Sweden's soft power. Per Enerud, Anna von Bayern and Nathan Shachar explore the image of Sweden in Russia, Germany and Spain, and Richard Swartz critiques the decline of the Swedish language.