Exploring the Limits of Social Democracy: Regime Change in Sweden

In: Studies in political economy: SPE ; a socialist review, Heft 44, S. 95-123

Abstract

Sweden has been under social democratic rule for decades & is held as a model of the welfare state & full development of citizen rights. Increasing European continental integration is placing stress on the Swedish system as evidenced by the flight of Swedish capital to foreign investments, unemployment, currency & interest rate fluctuations, & banking system failures. Sources of tension within Sweden's social democracy include: (1) fragmentation within the union movement; (2) lack of focus of Social Democratic party leadership & policy; & (3) transformation of the political economy through dismantling of societal corporatism & European integration. There is little question that the old social democratic regime is being transformed, but the specifics of an alternative regime are not yet certain. D. Generoli