DEATH OF A TROUBLESOME SOCIALIST
After 25 years, the investigation into Olof Palme’s assassi-
nation has not made much progress — possibly because it has
been conducted by loyal colleagues of the assassins. (PDF: 600 KB)
           
THE LEGACY OF OLOF PALME
On the political legacy of Olof Palme, and what
has become of it since his assassination in 1986.
     
WHAT TO LEARN FROM THE NORDIC MODEL
The social progress of the 20th century is now being reversed
by a neo-liberal offensive that is steadily gaining strength. In
order to halt that trend and restore the balance of power
which is a precondition of the Nordic model, it is essential
to renew the struggle against an aggressive and
uncompromising elite. (PDF: 260 KB)
     
THE NORDIC ALTERNATIVE
Proceedings of a seminar on the Nordic model's current challenges
and future prospects. Keynote speaker Gösta Esping-Andersen
is a leading authority on the general-welfare state.
      
BETTER THAN MONEY
Generally regarded as the richest country in the world, the USA
ranks near the bottom when the wealth of nations is measured
in terms of "everything that makes life worthwhile".
The Nordic countries rank at the top.
     
THE MARKET FOR SOCIAL INSECURITY
An efficient national pension system that has helped to make
Sweden's old folks among the most economically secure in
the world has been replaced by a costly, complicated
construction which is almost certain to make the
retirement years of future generations less secure.
       
SWEDISH FOREIGN POLICY
Notes on the abandonment of Sweden's once
enlightened and widely admired foreign policy.
           
'DIPLOMAT' THREATENS SWEDISH LIVES
Former head of intelligence at Colombia's Stockholm embassy
aims death threats at journalist, Swedish and Colombian
parliamentarians, and two solidarity organizations
based in Sweden. (PDF: 140 KB)
        
GREAT EUROPEAN EXPECTATIONS
Sweden joined the European Union in 1995, on the promise
that it would be a loose confederation of independent states.
But powerful interests have steadily expanded the scope and
authority of the EU at the expense of national integrity.
       
THREE TYPES OF EUROPEAN SOCIETY
A large body of evidence clearly suggests that a strong state
and a strong market reinforce each other.
       
PRIVATIZATION, TNCs & DEMOCRACY
The public sector is everywhere under attack by the forces of
neo-liberalism, including those that dominate the European Union.
Current plans by the EU will lead to further privatization and
transfer of power from democratic institutions to corporations.
       
FROM SOLIDARITY TO PRIVATE INSURANCE
The promotion of "diversity" in Swedish health care is likely to
lead to full-scale privatization and the division of the
populace into first- and second-class citizens.
(In Swedish with summary in English)
       
IN DEFENCE OF GENERAL WELFARE
"For the Welfare State" is the name of a broad coalition in
Norway which seeks to reverse the trend toward
"growing inequality,attacks on public services, and
ruthless exploitation of the environment.”
       
NORDIC WELFARE IN A EUROPEAN CONTEXT
A study of developments during the past two decades has
found little evidence to suggest that the Nordic welfare
states are becoming ”Europeanized”. The actual
trend appears to be the reverse. 
    
NOTES ON THE 2010 NATIONAL ELECTION
The election outcome signals the end of Social Democratic
dominance in Swedish politics and, consequently, the demise
of the Swedish model of society and foreign policy. (PDF: 360 KB)
      
SWEDISH NATIONAL ELECTION 2002
The general-welfare state received yet another vote of
confidence, and the neo-liberal alternative was emphatically
rejected. But that does not necessarily mean that the
Swedes are going to get what they voted for.
      
ARCHIVE
Articles on diverse subjects, dating back to 1998.