Central Intelligence Agency

“ Although the Constitution contains no formal bill of rights, traditional Swedish respect for individual rights and liberty is given effective expression in ordinary law and practice. The Constitution guarantees due process of law, the protection of private property, the inviolability of the home, and freedom of conscience and religion. The right of petition and freedom of speech and organization are not explicitly defined in the fundamental laws or in single pieces of legislation, but these principles are consistently observed in practice. ”

“ Significant social and economic factors have contributed to the stable evolution of Swedish politics in the present century. Non-involvement in external wars for a century and a half, in the exceptional ethnic homogeneity of the population, and a decentralized and diversified industrial base of the economy have helped foster a spirit of cooperation and pragmatism. Political compromise has become normal in the effort to avoid any disruption of orderly socioeconomic growth. ”

“ A major preoccupation of Swedish foreign policy is the maintenance of good relations with the Soviet Union, but this goal has tended to be elusive because of the tensions in Europe engendered by the East-West struggle. Sweden's concern about relations with the USSR derives essentially from its proximity and overwhelming military preponderance in the Baltic area. In the early post-World War II period and at the height of the Cold War, Soviet-Swedish relations were little more than formally correct and were characterized by periods of extreme chill. ”

“ Defense As in the other democracies of Western Europe, the military establishment is clearly subordinate to the popularly elected civilian government. Although military officers frequently attempt to influence and mold public opinion on matters relating to defense, they have little direct influence in making national policy. Defense policy is formulated by the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, who is appointed by the Minister of Defense, in coordination with the Joint Chiefs Committee, consisting of the commanders of the three armed services and the Chief of the Defense Staff. ”

“ The Scandinavian countries have evidenced a long political stability almost unique in continental Europe. As the principal nation in the Scandinavian area, Sweden has often set the pace for the social and economic innovation that has made for the regional political steadiness.
A number of determinants associated with modern Swedish society have helped form the popular penchant to support reformist rather than revolutionary solutions to national problems: the population is exceptionally homogenous and universally literate; there are no seriously divisive social issues ”

“ Thus, despite a jealously guarded freedom of action and occasionally vehement criticism of US actions in Southeast Asia, successive Swedish governments have predicated national survival ultimately on NATO, specifically US power. Although many Swedes believe that the Soviet Union no longer poses a threat to Western Europe, the nation as a whole tends to be wary of the traditional enemy that wrested Finland from the Swedish crown in 1809. Common ties of history and culture which bind many Swedes that Finnish independence is of paramount importance to Sweden's own security. ”

“ With an eye to broadening their appeal among the electorate, the Moderates have urged the creation of a "universal property-owning democracy," i.e. every Swede to be a homeowner. The party maintains that this objective is obstructed by confiscatory tax rates, which make it difficult to accumulate savings for the purchase of a home, and by the government's housing program, which emphasizes the construction of apartments instead of individual homes. ”

“ Sweden is a constitutional monarchy with a democratic, responsible, parliamentary system of centralized government, based on universal suffrage. Although the focus of power is in the unicameral legislative branch, the executive, i.e., the Council of State acting in the King's name, retains more authority than is usual in such systems. The judiciary is free and independent, but its authority is less important than that of the other branches, primarily because it lacks the right of judicial review of legislation. ”

“ Aside from the value of promoting close ties among the Scandinavian countries, the Swedish Government considers that these ties have great significance, because they enable Finland to strengthen its connections westward in a manner least likely to arouse Soviet suspicion and opposition. In line with the high priority Sweden places on maintaining an independent Finland on its frontiers, Swedish statemen believe that the nation's policy of neutrality and non-alliance affords it some leverage in alleviating some Soviet pressures on Finland. ”

“ Additionally, Sweden is the natural leader in the Nordic area - in size as well as in wealth - having a gross national product almost as large as that of the four other Nordic countries combined. And only the Swedes, through a combination of good luck and a strong military establishment, have been able to adhere to the common Nordic dream of neutrality.
The Swedish political system has very recently evolved into a form of pure parliamentary democracy that has proved consistently workable almost exclusively in the Scandinavian area. ”

“ The lack of serious social and economic grievances, coupled with the high order of political sophistication evidenced by the average citizen, makes Sweden a poor target for subversive activity. Non-Communist political leaders, the great majority of trade union leaders, and the press have cooperated to make the public aware of past Communist aims and tactics.
Ideologically aligned with the democratic West, Swedish political leaders are nevertheless strongly committed to pursuing a policy of non-alliance and neutrality. ”

“ The Riksdag is vested with the power to remove the government or an individual member of the Council of State immediately by a vote of no confidence. The only defensive move open to the government in such a case is to announce new elections within a week. The implementation of these reforms puts Sweden in step with the growing number of democracies in Western Europe which have embraced the idea of a directly elected unicameral legislature more responsive to the electorate. ”

“ Sweden has one of the most elaborate civil defense systems in Western Europe, having a higher per capita expenditure for this purpose than any other non-Communist countries. Government planning assumes there will be no capitulation to the enemy and calls for the speedy evacuation of non-essential persons from likely urban target areas. Those remaining in the cities would be given refuge in large conventional shelters as well as in the reinforced basements which are required in every school, hospital, factory, office building, and apartment building. ”

“ The Swedish Social Democratic Youth Association (SSU) provides young people with more practical training in party and national affairs. The SSU, which was organized in 1917, is the second largest and most influential political youth group in Sweden and had some 72,000 members in 1972. In addition to being a source of future party leaders, the SSU is a vehicle for conducting educational and propaganda activities within the party and among the electorate. At the congress in 1970, the SSU was chided for being a debating society and out of touch with the workers. ”

“ In its continuing effort to attract new members, the Communist party relies heavily on front organizations for the dissemination of propaganda on behalf of its own causes and those sponsored by the Soviet Communist Party. These fronts are composed largely of Communists and fellow travelers and are designed to enlist the support of non-Communists who are sympathetic to the Communist position on certain issues. The two most important fronts are the Swedish Peace Committee and the Association for the Promotion of Cultural and Economic Relations between Sweden and the Soviet Union. ”

“ During the 1920s and early 1930s no combination of parties with a parliamentary majority proved possible, and consequently the government rotated among the Social Democrats, Liberals, and Conservatives, each making compromises in order to gain office and to get legislation enacted. By 1932, however, the Social Democratic Party had gained sufficient popular support to enable it to become dominant, and for the next four decades it governed alone or in coalition with the Center Party, or, as during World War II, in a national coalition with all the other non-Communist parties. ”

“ The cooperative effort in governing Sweden has provided a model for the other Nordic countries.
Since the mid-1950s the non-Communist political parties have broadened their platforms, each one attempting to attract the floating vote, chiefly of farmers, small businessmen, and the growing group of white-collar workers. A system of proportional representation in national and local elections, while tending to disfavor the smaller parties, distributes the seats broadly in accordance with the popular vote. ”

“ As elsewhere in Europe, modern political parties developed in Sweden in the latter 19th century along essentially class lines and engaged in somewhat the same class struggles. The fundamental domestic issues of the past - the nature and extent of parliamentary government, extension of the suffrage, the respective rules of government and free enterprise in the economic system, and the institution of state-directed social welfare - were largely resolved by the early 1930s. ”

“ Sweden has been a strong supporter of several non-military regional organizations and has viewed membership in them as consistent with its policy of non-alliance. Stockholm maintains close relations with its Nordic neighbors, with which is cooperates in a wide range of economic, social, and cultural problems. Most joint enterprises have been conducted under the auspices of the Nordic Council, which Sweden helped to found in 1952. ”

“ Major and sudden changes in the strength of the significant parties tend to be rare, as are radical shifts in public opinion. On the other hand, in line with the rising tide of revolt among many Swedish youths, they tend not to follow traditional voting patterns but to shift to more extreme positions on the right and particularly the left. ”

“ The Liberals have accepted the supplementary retirement pension system as a scheme "that has come to stay," although they oppose the turnover or value added tax (which contributes to the revenue needed for financing the social welfare programs) as unnecessary and call instead for less lavish spending. They also favor profit-sharing in industry, a shorter working period during the year through either longer vacations or more free Saturdays, and the promotion of rural development by official support for light industrial and commercial development in the countryside. ”

“ Each local government is headed by a council, elected on a proportional representation basis by all citizens 20 years of age and over, with a membership ranging from 15 to 60. The council appoints an executive committee consisting of five to 11 members; it prepares the agenda for council meetings, administers property, directs administration, and generally protects local interests. The council also appoints other committees to deal with elections, construction, civil defense, health and care of the sick, and other community interests. Local as well as provincial governments may levy taxes ”

“ Foreign policy formulation in Sweden is the responsibility of the cabinet in general and of the Minister of Foreign Affairs in particular. The minister is obliged by law to consult with the Foreign Relations Council of the Riksdag, which is composed of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riksdag, the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, and the King, who presides. The council meets approximately six times a year or when a serious foreign policy issue requires an extraordinary session, and meetings are always held in camera. ”

“ Nevertheless, the government realizes the reality of economic dependence on the EC countries as markets for Swedish products and is prepared to negotiate a treaty providing for an industrial free-trade arrangement that would protect many economic interests of Sweden without requiring it to assume political obligations that would compromise its neutrality. The attitudes of party leaders and the rank and file toward the USSR do not differ markedly from other segments of Swedish society. ”

“ With the intensification of the Vietnam war in the spring of 1972, leaders in the Riksdag, led by the Prime Minister, stepped up their harsh criticism of the United States.
There is considerable division within the party regarding the size and mission of national defense forces. Most members hold that Sweden should maintain sufficient forces to deter a potential aggressor, but there is also widespread sentiment that military expenditures should be reduced in order to permit further expansion of social welfare benefits. ”

“ Early in 1964 the Communists adopted a policy designed to convince the electorate that they were a bona fide Swedish party independent of Moscow's control, left-socialist in political orientation, and committed to supporting democratic institutions. The success of the new tactics was evident in the gains made by the Communists in the elections of 1964 and 1966, which appeared to mark the end of the political isolation experienced by them throughout much of the postwar era. ”

“ The Prime Minister is dominant, because he selects the other ministers, who are then formally appointed by the King. Furthermore, if the Prime Minister is incapacitated or resigns, the rest of the cabinet must also resign. The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the political party in power. With the exception of the ministers without portfolio, all ministers are generally members of the Riksdag, to which the cabinet is responsible. Ministers are entitled to address the Riksdag, even if they are not members. Since World War II all heads of ministries have been Social Democrats. ”