Švedski Euroskepticizam: Demokracija, Suverenitet i socijalna Skrb
Swedish Euroskepticism: Democracy, Sovereignty and Social Welfare

Author(s): Milena Sunnus
Subject(s): International relations/trade, EU-Approach / EU-Accession / EU-Development
Published by: Centar za politološka istraživanja
Summary/Abstract: Sweden joined the European Union in 1995 despite considerable public opposition. Since joining the Union, Euroscepticism has been on the rise: more and more Swedes believe that Brussels interferes in their internal affairs and are speaking out against the euro. Basing its conclusions on interviews with various Swedish public figures, this article shows that Swedish Euroscepticism is caused by cultural elements and is based on beliefs of national superiority, especially in the fields of gender equality, environmental protection and alcohol control. The prevailing belief is that Sweden is better off than the rest of the Union and that the “cultural heritage” from Brussels should be contained or even countered by appropriate “Nordic values”. However, it is almost certain that beliefs of superiority will decline over time as increasingly intensive transnational contacts increasingly restrain isolationists. Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson, who initially strongly defended "Nordic values", recently stated that these values are actually part of the "family of European values".

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