Swedish Society
A look at the social structures and political history of Sweden.
Medieval Swedish Society
The society of medieval Sweden differed from the European standard in several ways. Most significantly, feudalism and associated serfdom never gained much traction within the region. Power remained in the hands of petty kings and earls, or jarls. Kings ruled over several jarls, who in turn acted as leaders of their communities. These towns and villages were populated by free people, or karls, and their slaves. Most karls worked as farmers, and private land-ownership was common. Others made their living as craftsmen, sailors, traders, poets, and warriors.
Wealth and personal fame were more important for status than birth. A karl could become an earl or even king if he garnered enough support. A slave could purchase freedom, and a king could lose power through shame or poverty. Freemen generally enjoyed high personal freedom, including the right to hold opinions contrary to their earl or king. In reality, however, it could be dangerous to disagree with a powerful man and his followers. Women, for the most part, held the same status as their closest male relative or husband. This relatively egalitarian society required an extensive code of laws, kept in memory by court lawspeakers. They presided over periodic assemblies of free people at meetings known as things.
The Kingdom of Sweden and the Swedish Empire
From the 11th century on, Scandinavia unified under increasingly powerful monarchies. The courts of minor kings and earls consolidated under the crowns of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. This brought a more European-style social system, marked by greater stratification between the classes. Sweden elected its kings until the reign of Gustav Vasa in the 16th century. Similarly, the nobility of this period moved to a more formal, hereditary system. In 1435, the ancestor of the modern Swedish legislature, or Riksdag, met for the first time. It would later expand to represent the four basic social classes: nobles, the clergy, burgher merchants, and the peasantry.
This period saw Sweden rise from a remote trading state to one of the foremost military powers in Europe. The Swedish Empire, reigning from 1611 to 1721, came to control much of Scandinavia and the Baltics. A close alliance with France shaped Swedish arts, society, education, and philosophy during the 18th century. The Riksdag, faced with an absolute monarchy, reached a low point in terms of influence. This would change by the 19th century, when Sweden’s global influence had waned. In 1866, the Riksdag reformed as a bicameral legislative body, curbing the power of the monarchy.
Modern Swedish Society
The 20th century brought many changes to Sweden’s government, including a long-standing debate on the role of the monarchy. The nation enacted universal suffrage in 1921. Social democracy, a fusion of socialist and capitalist ideals, grew popular as a political movement. Founded in 1889, the Swedish Social Democratic Party is Sweden’s oldest extant political party. It led to the creation of an advanced welfare state, prioritizing access to amenities like education, housing, and healthcare for its people. Concepts like gender equality, environmentalism, collective benefit, and labor rights have all formed the heart of Swedish society. Further constitutional reform came in 1974, when the Riksdag became a unicameral body.
In recent decades, Sweden has grown more diverse both politically and as a society. About 300,000 immigrants since 2015, mostly Muslim refugees, have raised questions about tolerance and national identity within the country. A surge in right-wing politics has accompanied the demographic shift. At the same time, rising income inequality has stoked tensions between urban and rural workforces. The nation in general continues to enjoy a high quality of life, despite these recent conflicts.
Learn More About Swedish Culture:
Cultural Overview | Geography | History | Daily Life | Society | Economy | Beliefs | Arts & Music
References
Kane, Njord. The Vikings: The Story of a People. Spangenhelm Publishing. 2015.
Kent, Neil. A Concise History of Sweden. Cambridge University Press. 2008.
Magnusson, Lars. An Economic History of Sweden. Routledge. 2002.
Myrdal, Janken and Mats Morell, eds. The Agrarian History of Sweden: 4000 BC to AD 2000. Nordic Academic Press. 2011.
Scott, Franklin Daniel. Sweden, the Nation's History. SIU Press. 1988.
“Sweden.” OECD Better Life Index, OECD, www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/sweden/.
“Sweden's Far-Right Poised for Record Election Gains.” The Local, The Local Europe, 26 Aug. 2018, www.thelocal.se/20180826/swedens-far-right-poised-for-record-election-gains.
Sprague, Martina. Sweden: An Illustrated History. Hippocrene Books. 2005.
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