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book thread of "The New Totalitarians" by Roland Huntford
The Swedish Social Democratic Party has been in power for 81 of the last 103 years.
Their longest streak in power was 44 years, from 1932 to 1976.
However, they usual rule as a minority government, with the occasional coalition or majority government.
Their longest streak in power was 44 years, from 1932 to 1976.
However, they usual rule as a minority government, with the occasional coalition or majority government.
Sweden never experienced feudalism in the traditional European sense.
Due to geography conducive to defense and communication, the Swedish state was relatively centralized, with the king exercising an unusual level of control over the nobility and peasantry.
Due to geography conducive to defense and communication, the Swedish state was relatively centralized, with the king exercising an unusual level of control over the nobility and peasantry.
The monarchy incorporated the church into the state, using it for bureaucratic functions.
The transition to Protestantism was very slow, smooth, and effective.
Starting in 1860, religions laws were relaxed, because all non-Lutherans had converted, been deported, or emigrated.
The transition to Protestantism was very slow, smooth, and effective.
Starting in 1860, religions laws were relaxed, because all non-Lutherans had converted, been deported, or emigrated.
For much of the first half of the 17th century, Sweden was effectively ruled by its chancellor, a giga-bureaucrat named Axel Oxenstierna, who created much of Sweden's administrative state. The county borders that he created survive to this day.
He also spoke Scots.
He also spoke Scots.
Starting in 1709, Sweden began to decline as a military power with their surrender at Poltova, followed by more capitulations. Their last military engagement was in 1814.
However, they have given wartime assistance, notably supplying the Nazis with crucial amounts of iron ore.
However, they have given wartime assistance, notably supplying the Nazis with crucial amounts of iron ore.
Sweden was one of the last holdouts of the open field system of farming, with their enclosures finally occurring in 1827, albeit much less painlessly than in other countries.
Pictures courtesy of our resident expert on medieval field systems, @hbdchick
Pictures courtesy of our resident expert on medieval field systems, @hbdchick
Early industry in Sweden was dominated by the bruk, a mill and a village inhabited by its workers, both owned by the same man.
Essentially an industrial form of serfdom, the workers were tied to the job, looked after by a paternalistic owner.
Essentially an industrial form of serfdom, the workers were tied to the job, looked after by a paternalistic owner.
Sweden nationalized very little industry; only about 5% industry was state-owned when this book was written in the 70s.
However, the state still managed to exert control through extreme taxation plus control of credit, and further measures that I'll highlight in the next post.
However, the state still managed to exert control through extreme taxation plus control of credit, and further measures that I'll highlight in the next post.
