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200 Years of Peace
New Perspectives on Modern Swedish Foreign Policy
Edited by Nevra Biltekin, Leos Müller and Magnus Petersson
222 pages, bibliog., index
ISBN 978-1-80073-589-7 $135.00/£99.00 / Hb / Published (August 2022)
eISBN 978-1-80073-590-3 eBook
Reviews
“This generous collection of essays portrays salient aspects of Sweden’s policy of neutrality throughout the last 200 years. A truly stimulating read including splendid and sometimes thought-provoking interpretations. The book deserves international attention.” • Rasmus Mariager, University of Copenhagen
“This is an interesting volume that (1) provides a clear survey of official (governmental) Swedish foreign policy since 1814 and (2) introduces readers to new perspectives that focus on aspects of ‘public diplomacy’ – diplomacy or elements of international relations that may or may not have had influence on official state policies. The scholarship in the book is excellent and reflects deep dives into neglected topics and neglected sources.” • Byron Nordstrom, Gustavus Adolphus College
Description
Since 1814 Sweden has avoided involvement in armed conflicts and carried out policies of non-alignment in peacetime and neutrality during war. Even though the Swedish government often describes Sweden as a ‘nation of peace’, in 2004 the 200-year anniversary of that peace passed by with barely any attention. Despite its extraordinary longevity, research about the Swedish experience of enduring peace is underdeveloped. 200 Years of Peace places this long period of peace in broader academic and public discussions surrounding claimed Swedish exceptionality as it is represented in the nation’s social policies, expansive welfare state, eugenics, gender equality programs, and peace.
Nevra Biltekin has a PhD in history from Stockholm University. She has been affiliated with the Northern European Studies Institute at Humboldt University–Berlin, and the Hans Blix Center for the History of International Relations at Stockholm University. Her research has focused on unofficial diplomacy and gender in transnational relations during the 20th century.
Leos Müller is Professor of History and the Head of the Centre for Maritime Studies at Stockholm University. His research interests include global history, history of early modern and modern neutrality and Swedish maritime history from early modern time to present. His recent publications include Sveriges första globala århundrade: En 1700-tals historia (2018) and Neutrality in World History: Themes in World History (2019).
Magnus Petersson is Professor of International Relations and Head of Department for Economic History and International Relations at Stockholm University. Previously he has been Analyst at the Swedish Defence Research Agency (2020–2021), Professor of Modern History at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies (2008–2020), and Lecturer, Director of Studies, and Head of Research and Development at the Swedish Defence University (1998–2008). He has published widely on Swedish, Nordic, and Transatlantic defence and security issues.
Subject: History: 20th Century to PresentPeace and Conflict Studies
Area: Northern Europe
Contents
Download ToC (PDF)
Of Related Interest
Sweden after Nazism
Politics and Culture in the Wake of the Second World War
Ambassadors of Realpolitik
Sweden, the CSCE and the Cold War
Europeanization in Sweden
Opportunities and Challenges for Civil Society Organizations
