The Swedes : the main Nordic-Europeans / Yehuda Cohen.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Cohen, Yehuda, 1931- author.

Series:

Post-Nationality in the European Union's East and North

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Swedes--History.

National characteristics, Swedish.

Sweden--Civilization.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (344 pages)

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Nova Science Publishers, Inc., [2021]

Summary:

"The Swedes did not have a real feudal system, since their lands were not fertile enough for the peasants to spare more than a small portion of their crops in order to maintain the wellbeing of the nobility. Swedish peasants were mostly free and, in 1434, gained real political status. In 1471 a dispute occurred in Sweden and peasants and citizens, led by a nobleman from Stockholm named Sten Sture, who desired a separate Swedish state. Sture and his comrades won the battle. Sture became a hero in the Swedish collective memory, ruled Sweden, and fought successfully against the Russians. In 1520 King Christian II of Denmark defeated and killed the Swedish King Sten Sture den Yngre (the Younger) and became king of Sweden, but the Swedish army, led by a nobleman named Gustav Vasa, drove Christian II from Sweden in 1523. At the time, the vast majority of Swedish lands were owned by peasants. Vasa and his descendants, who ruled the country and waged war on the Baltic shores and into European soil, gave the Swedish nobility and wealthy individuals a political status. These kings relied on the multiple wars' outcomes to further their national enterprise and develop a Swedish national identity among strata of the wider population. That spirit of nationality, together with the cherished Swedish values of freedom and enterprise, enabled a successful campaign by King Gustavus Adolphus and his prime minister between 1626 and 1648. Yet after that war, when Sweden was accepted as a major European power, the Swedes understood that their resources would not allow them to play a central role in any future conflict, and they began to pursue a course of neutrality that continued throughout the two World Wars. During the years of Europe's consolidation, the historical lessons learned by the Swedes culminated in a realization that they could not maintain an independent role in European "jungle politics" and that their attempts at neutrality could even prove dangerous. After much hesitation, they jumped into the European "swimming pool" and have remained floating there quite comfortably. The Swedes feel comfortable within the EU and would prefer to stay there in the future, adapting to the notion of a European nationality"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Intro

Contents

Series Preface

Post-Nationality in the European Union's East and North

The Dutch: Creativity in the Face of Nature

The Poles: Myths and Reality

The Hungarians: Borders of Language and Dilemmas of Identity

The Bulgarians: A Forged Mélange

The Swedes: The Main Nordic-Europeans

In Memoriam

Introduction

Chapter 1

Before the Middle Ages

The Ancient Inhabitants of Sweden and Their Country

The Viking Age

The Coming of Christianity

Chapter 2

The Middle Ages in Sweden (1100-1500 AD)

First Identification of Swedish Nationality

Religion and Nationality and a Comment on the Peasants' Participation in the National Cause

Chapter 3

Modernism and Signs of National Cohesion in the 16th Century

Chapter 4

Age of Greatness: Sweden as a European Power

Introduction to the Chapter

General Understandings Stemming from this Chapter

National Characteristics

Religious Consolidation and National Consolidation

Background of Matters Before Gustavus Began to Act

Kalmar War against Denmark

Struggles against the Russians

A War against Poland from Its North Side

The Outbreak of the Thirty Years' War and the Swedish Invasion of Prussia

The City of Stralsund

Swedish Probes against the Emperor's Army

Breitenfeld Battle and Its Aftermath

Chapter 5

Rocking in a Loss of Way (1648-1810)

Sweden Depleted After the Thirty Years' War (1648-1718)

Absolute Monarchy Rule as a Cancellation of Nationality

The Decline in the Power of Kings and the Rise of Democratic Freedom (1721-1771)

Absolute Monarchy While Maintaining the Existence of Nationality

The Gustavian Period (1771-1810)

Chapter 6

The Swedes and Their Neutrality as a Means for the Preservation of Their National Essence (1810-1945)

Union with Norway

Internal Processes.

Neutrality and Scandinavian Ties While Maintaining Separate Swedish Nationality until World War I

World War I

Between the World Wars

World War II

Chapter 7

European and Global Integration and Swedish National Identity While Building a Welfare State

European Integration: The European Union

Chapter 8

Concluding Remarks Regarding the Identity and Essence of the Swedes and Their Nationality

Sten Sture's Affair

Early Swedish Nationality Following the Sten Sture's Affair

The Gustavian Period in Sweden (1771-1810)

The Swedes and Their Neutrality as a Means of Preserving Their National Independence (1810-1945)

Union of Sweden with Norway

The European Belonging of the Swedes

The Swedes in the Face of European Integration within the Framework of the European Community and the EU

References

About the Author

Index

Blank Page.

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-5361-9242-2