Danish Government

“ For us, we have the most implicit reliance on the honor of the Danish Government, and the Danish people, and we feel persuaded that they will not follow the example of the National Convention. In Denmark, love of justice and respect for the sacredness of the rights of property are too deeply implanted in the soil to be easily rooted out. ”

“ The Danish Government now guarantees civic and cultural rights, including the optional teaching of primary classes in German. Membership in and support for the German minority Schleswig Party will probably continue to decline as broader national issues assume an increasing importance to the ethnic Germans themselves. Such issues may only be effectively addressed through casting one's ballot for a major Danish party. ”

“ Regional and local governments to an increasing extent have become administrative arms of the national government. While the national government may legislate broad programs, however, only the local authorities have the intimate knowledge to apply those programs to local needs. In this regard the general European quest for specific local initiatives, seen notably in the student manifestations of the late 1960s, has had some impact on Danish legal prerogatives, as has the transition of Denmark from a principally agricultural to a principally industrial economy. ”

“ The Danes rationalize their seeming double standards with judging the two superpowers by insisting that an exemplary standard of behavior should be expected of the most influential democracy in the world. In the early 1970s, notwithstanding Denmark's near total identity of interests with the West - the USSR and Eastern Europe account for less than 5% of Danish trade - Danish observers and politicians, including Social Democratic Prime Minister Jorgensen, seemed inclined to pursue every little sign indicating USSR interest in detente. ”

“ The Danish Government has not flinched an inch, although Lord Russell has strangely transferred his support to the other side. His Lordship, indeed, does not adopt in its exact form the Germanic programme; he does not propose that there shall be a common constitution for the whole kingdom, in which each province shall be equally represented; but he would give Schleswig (as well as Holstein and Lauenburg) a separate constitution from Denmark Proper, and would give to each of these provinces a co-ordinate power with the rest of the kingdom. ”

“ Danish governments have been generally stable and effective, despite the fact that 9 of the 11 post-World War II governments have not held a parliamentary majority. With the exception of the April 1953 Cabinet, which was dissolved to allow elections under the new Constitution, the life of the average government has been nearly 3 years. National elections must be held at least every 4 years. ”

“ Various reforms were carried, but the proposal to sell the Danish islands in the West Indies to the United States fell through. During these years the relations between Denmark and the German empire improved, and in the country itself the cause of social democracy made great progress. In January 1906 King Christian ended his long reign, and was succeeded by his son Frederick VIII. At the elections of 1906 the government lost its small absolute majority, but remained in power with support from the Moderates and Conservatives. ”

“ Foreign Since the end of World War II the Danish attitude toward world affairs has undergone a radical change. No longer confining their attention to those small problems which affect their national interests directly, the Danes have expanded their participation in international affairs to a marked degree. In common with their Scandinavian colleagues, to be sure, the Danes are sometimes motivated by simplistic moral impulses in their evaluation of complicated world problems. Thus, they tend to display an indiscriminate enthusiasm for "liberation" movements in the underdeveloped world. ”

“ The measures pursued in behalf of our injured citizens not having obtained justice for them, a further and more formal interposition with the Danish Government is contemplated. The principles which have been maintained by that Government in relation to neutral commerce, and the friendly professions of His Danish Majesty toward the United States, are valuable pledges in favor of a successful issue. ”

“ The Danish parties, large or small, share many of the same attitudes and objectives, differing more in their views as to how the goals should be attained. Seven of the 10 parties shown - all except the pivotal Socialist People's Party, and the insignificant Left Socialist and Communist Parties - are democratically oriented in the Western sense. Notwithstanding the national sensitivity to political freedom, some citizens would give the Socialist People's Party and the Left Socialist Party the benefit of the doubt. ”

“ Danish leaders, however, consider their nation alert to the realities of international politics, and foreign policy since World War II has indeed evidenced a basic coherence and viability. The broad outlines of postwar foreign policy are best summarized in the membership of Denmark in four international organizations: the United Nations, NATO, the European Communities, and the Nordic Council. ”

“ Grievances, both present and anticipated, are readily aired through normal political channels in a nation where the popular welfare is an established ideal. Remedial action is then pursued through compromise rather than confrontation policies. Tensions and ills in the largely homogenous Danish society are minimal in comparison to those of larger, more diverse nations and are not too difficult for the well-developed Danish social consciousness to grasp. ”

“ A lawyer, public prosecutor, or judge must by law be a graduate of Danish law school, possess high character, and have the experience and demonstrated ability to carry out his duties.
7. Regional and Local Government As a small, homogenous, relatively prosperous country, Denmark has enjoyed efficient local administration in the 20th century. The little friction that has occurred from time to time was more often traceable to human error than to institutional malfunction. By law the national government remains supreme over local government in all fields. ”

“ Only a few groups prefer that their interests not be entrusted to a particular party. One outstanding example, the Danish Women Citizens' Society, was founded in 1871 to gain through its own pressure activity "social and legal equality for the Danish women." Having secured voting, employment, education, and marital rights over the years with relative ease, the society continues to function principally as a watchdog pressure group to see that the law is observed. In 1964 the society rejected a proposal that it transform itself into a political party. ”

“ Danish political life is marked by an uncommon political stability. As in Sweden, Norway, and Iceland the average tenure in office of particular governments since World War II has been 3 years. Prime Ministers and other ministers may continue through several Cabinets, virtually making a career of their days in office. ”

“ The crown-lands and most of the towns were under his immediate jurisdiction, but by the side of the crown-lands lay the estates of the nobility, which already comprised about one-half of the superficial area of Denmark, and were in many respects independent of the central government both as regards taxation and administration. In a word, the monarchy had to share its dominion with the nobility; and the Danish nobility in the 16th century was one of the most exclusive and selfish aristocracies in Europe, and already far advanced in decadence. ”

“ While the Danish legislators may feel confident of their ability to keep the executive branch in line, they also are aware that they and their works are subject to the judgement of the electorate, which at least once every 4 years has the right to deprive them of their highly prized political position and power. By means of the popular referendum, another innovation of the 1953 Constitution, most categories of the national legislation may be subjected to the review of the electorate and may on occasion be defeated, as were the government land laws in June 1963. ”

“ A semi-socialist state and a monitored free-enterprise system now coexist, as do the partisans of socialism and a modified capitalism. Yet, as the existence of splinter parties suggests and as the ebbing strength of the long-dominant Social Democratic Party indicates, the Danish voter reserves his right to express dissatisfaction with the way things are being run. Smugness is a sing the Danes assign to the Swedes. A Danish political party takes its following for granted only at its own risk. ”

“ Political life is characterized by stability and compromise. As in the other Scandinavian countries, a multi-party system functions with relative efficiency because of the essential pragmatism of Danish politicians and a lack of divisive issues among the population. The Social Democratic Party, while carrying on its pre-World War II role as the leading political force, has seen its strength eroded, first by the rising appeal of parties to its left and then, since 1968, by the enhanced popularity of the parties to its right. ”

“ Again, from 1950 to 1953 it ruled, this time forming a minority government with the Conservatives under Moderate Liberal Prime Minister Erik Eriksen; and in 1968 it joined with the Conservatives and Radical Liberals to serve under Prime Minister Hilmer Baunsgaard, a Radical Liberal.
Espousing the traditional liberal tenet of free trade, the Moderate Liberal Party has had a powerful appeal to the Danish farmer, who must sell abroad to survive. As demographic change has transformed Denmark from an agricultural to an urban society, the Moderate Liberals have tried to adjust accordingly. ”

“ Their ambivalence on defense matters notwithstanding, the Radical Liberals remain forthrightly and unabashedly internationalist. They have supported the Danish commitment to the United Nations and the Council of Europe and have long urged close cooperation within the Nordic Council. Although divided over Danish accession to the EC, the party leadership supported the initiative, indeed marshalled much of the national support for the beleaguered Social Democratic government during the parliamentary debate and subsequent pre-referendum campaigning. ”

“ Thus, the civil servant tends to share with the Monarch the continuous and permanent political tradition and provides a steady hand for the exercise of long-established policy, a condition highly agreeable to the relatively smooth running Danish welfare state but one occasionally disagreeable to a Cabinet minister with new ideas.
The higher echelons of the civil service are occupied almost invariably by those with a university education. ”

“ For three months the Government laboured to bring about through a European council some solution that should both save something for Denmark and save its own prestige. Repeatedly Palmerston, in the many parliamentary debates on Denmark, broke loose from his Cabinet colleagues and indulged in threats which could not fail to give an excellent handle to opponents when once it became clear that the Ministry had no intention of coming in arms to the defence of the Danish King. ”

“ Danish voters may also be called upon at irregular intervals to pass final judgement on certain legislative acts of the Folketing. By provision of the constitutional revision of 1953, one-third of the members of parliament may demand a popular referendum on bills other than those relating to finance, government loans, taxation, most treaty obligations, naturalization, and a few other special categories. The bill is annulled if it is opposed by a majority of those voting and not less than 30% of all eligible voters.
Danes take their right to vote seriously and go to the polls in large number. ”

“ Danish society, though homogenous and largely untroubled, has been passing through an evolutionary phase which provides a political challenge. Denmark's economy has moved beyond the fishing and agricultural concentration of earlier days. Its modernized commercial farming required less than 15% of its labor force in 1972. ”

“ The question of race relations in the United States also continues to pique the interest of the moralistic but remarkably homogenous Danish society. Like their Swedish neighbors, they are prone to compare their own limited, but honorable and compassionate historic treatment of negroes with the continuing problems in US race relations. The black population of Denmark is so infinitesimal that it defies measurement as a proportion, but every Danish schoolchild learns with pride that Denmark, in 1792, was "the first country in the world to forbid slave trading." ”

“ DANISH ESTABLISHMENTS, GREENLAND.
The Esquimaux are not subject to Danish laws, but although proud of their nominal independence they are sincerely attached to the Danes, and with abundant reason; a Lutheran clergyman, a doctor, and a schoolmaster, whose duty it is to give gratuitous instruction and relief, are paid by the Government, and attached to each district; and when these improvident people are in distress, which not unfrequently happens during the long winters, provisions are issued to them free of cost; spirits are strictly prohibited. ”

“ Every child between the ages of 7 and 14 is obliged by law to attend some school, and it is rare to meet a Danish peasant, however poor, who cannot read and write. The university of Copenhagen, which dates from 1478, has 40 professors and upward of 1,100 students, and there are colleges in all the large towns, besides 2,940 public schools. The number of periodicals is large in proportion to the population.—The government of Denmark is a hereditary constitutional monarchy. ”