Sweden And European Integration

First published in 1997, this volume examines the future development of the European Union (and Sweden's role within it) which has been a subject of intense debate. Whilst to outside observers, the Swedish case may seem peripheral to mainstream events on the continental mainland due to the country's status as a small state, Sweden will nevertheless have an important contribution to make to the future evolution of the European Union. The purpose of this book is to examine the complex inter-relationship between Sweden and European integration (1950-96). It introduces the concept of the 'Swedish Diamond' to explain why the country's governing elite resisted and then went on to seek and attain full EU membership. The author also argues that a revised 'Membership Diamond' represents a useful conceptual framework for examining elite attitudes and perspectives now that Sweden is a full EU member. The book also includes a Foreword by the Swedish Defence Minister, Björn von Sydow.

Informed by his profound knowledge of contemporary political affairs and the current debate on European integration in Sweden, Lee Miles investigates Sweden's experiences of being a full member of the European Union since 1995. Widely regarded as one of the leading authorities on Scandinavian relations with the European Union (EU), the author proposes a micro fusion perspective offering an insightful new conceptual framework through which to understand Swedish views on European integration and the influences on national EU policy. The volume also includes a Foreword by Wolfgang Wessels, Jean Monnet Professor and the founder of the fusion theory.

First published in 1997, this volume examines the future development of the European Union (and Sweden’s role within it) which has been a subject of intense debate. Whilst to outside observers, the Swedish case may seem peripheral to mainstream events on the continental mainland due to the country’s status as a small state, Sweden will nevertheless have an important contribution to make to the future evolution of the European Union. The purpose of this book is to examine the complex inter-relationship between Sweden and European integration (1950-96). It introduces the concept of the ‘Swedish Diamond’ to explain why the country’s governing elite resisted and then went on to seek and attain full EU membership. The author also argues that a revised ‘Membership Diamond’ represents a useful conceptual framework for examining elite attitudes and perspectives now that Sweden is a full EU member. The book also includes a Foreword by the Swedish Defence Minister, Björn von Sydow.

The four Nordic countries, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway, have all held referenda on their relationship to the European Union in the 1990's. These referenda catalysed heated debates: should Finland and Sweden give up neutrality? Should Denmark follow the European Union's move towards higher degrees of integration? And, had there been enough change in Norway to reverse the rejection of European Community membership in 1972? These key questions about the future of European integration are addressed in this highly topical book by examining the crucial role played by national identity.

First published in 1999, this volume why Europe’s arguably most successful political party, the Swedish Social Democratic Party, become so divided over European integration. Why were its grass-roots so reluctant to embrace EU membership and why did a Social Democratic government decide to stand aside from the launch of the single European currency? What connection is there between Europe and the Swedish model of political economy? While much has been written in English on Swedish Social Democracy, little of this literature has dealt with its difficulties during the 1990s and especially with its acute problems over Europe. This book fills that gap. Using original, primary data, Nicholas Aylott addresses the topic from macro and micro-political perspectives, taking account of historical, cultural, geopolitical and economic constraints, but also the interests and calculations of key individuals at critical junctures. It places the experience of Swedish Social Democracy into a broad comparative framework, drawing especially from the experiences of its Scandinavian sister parties. Up-to-date analysis of the party’s debate on EMU is included.

Notwithstanding its many successes since 1945, the project of European integration currently faces major difficulties, from financial crises and mass immigration to the impending departure of the UK from the European Union. At the same time, these challenges have spurred civil society organizations within and across Europe, revealing a shared public sphere in which citizens can mobilize around refugee rights, opposition to austerity policies, and other issues. Europeanization in Sweden assembles new empirical research on how these processes have played out in one of the continent’s wealthiest nations, providing insights into whether, and how, the “Swedish model” can guide European integration.

This text provides an overview of conceptual approaches to the changes brought about by EU accession, including the Membership Diamond framework and an introduction to the central challenges facing Sweden in the new century.

Analysing some 30 policy decisions across three countries and five decades, Sieglinde Gstohl considers why some countries continue to be 'reluctant Europeans' and offers insights into the problems associated with integration in an enlarging EU.

This book presents the legal and political factors determining international relations, including the processes of integration in all their complexity. The overall structure of the book, together with the composition of its separate chapters, allows for some general assumptions, identifying the main tendencies and placing them in a contemporary social context as well as establishing their relations with the practices of today. The content is a compendium of basic information and data related to the international processes which occur within specific formal, legal and political frames. The book is divided into five parts featuring not only deep historical context but most of all presenting current information and analyses of the last few years. Presented against the background and within the context of the Kingdom of Sweden’s political system and its international environment, the book brings into the foreground issues of particular importance for Sweden’s continuing European integration process and describes its response to the developments in the international situation.