Info about Call Sweden
Modern history of Sweden
The aspect of the modern Sweden as we know it today started with the industrialisation of the beginning of the 20th century. This process transformed it from one of the poorest countries in Europe in one of the most developed.
During the two World Wars, Sweden declared itself to be neutral. While during the World War I the situation was clear and this state of action( or lack of it) was obvious, World War II changed a bit the perspective on Sweden. Sweden allowed the German troops to cross over the Norvegian territory, but it also came in help for the war refugees and the Jew victims. By doing this, Sweden somehow broke its neutrality statement, but the circumstances were not easy at the time. However, Sweden was not the only one to do this, as Switzerland, the neutral declared country also had a certain amount of involvement during the World War II.
After the war was over, the Social Democrates which strengthen their position during the interwar period, took control of the country and created folkhemmet, or the welfare state. This policy quickly rose the quality of life for lots of Swedes and helped the further development fo the country.
However, in the last part of the 20th century the Swedish economy suffered some falls that made the people fell less certain of their lifestyle. Apparently, all the gaps in the national strategy began be be revealed once with the assassination of the country’s Prime Minister, Olof Palme, in 1986. This murder as well as the fact that the killer was not found has shaken the general trust of Swedes in their Government.
This unfortunate event was followed by others with worse consequences in the country evolution. The budgetary existing problems surfaced in 1992, during the economic recession, and the Swedish currency, krona has suffered serious devaluation. The outcome of these events was a world record interest rate of 500%, which led to an unemployment rate of 14 percent. It certainly was a dark period for Sweden.
Things became more optimistic once with the majority of citizens voting for joining the European Union in 1995. Those sad times seem to become more and more far away as more reforms were adopted and the economy followed a rising trend. The confidence of Swedes in the national Government also rose as their problems belonged more to the past.
Nevertheless, another violent crime disturbed a little the smooth way Sweden was walking on. In 2003, Anna Lindh, the Foreign Minister was murdered. As she was sustaining the adoption of the unique European currency, euro, the right forces were suspected. However, it was proved that the actual killer was phsycologically disturbed and her death had nothing to do it’s the upcoming referendum. At this referendum, despite the minister’s death, the population voted against the euro.
Sweden is now a flourishing nation and all the pitfalls that it succeeded in overcoming over the years ensured the people that it is a strong nation with a solid history that is ready to confront the future eventual difficulties.