Riding the Wave

Sweden's Integration into the Imperialist World System

English language

Published March 10, 2021 by Kersplebedeb Publishing.

ISBN:
978-1-989701-12-6
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The Scandinavian countries, particularly Sweden, are capitalist welfare states which provide high standards of living and social security for their nation’s citizens. Sweden is regarded as progressive; it is often evoked as a showcase of “capitalism with a human face,” when it is not being described as outright “socialist.” These are the accomplishments of the Social Democratic Party, supported by the strong trade union movement. However, such claims only make sense if one takes imperialism out of the equation.

This book tells another story, about how Sweden rides on the wave of colonialism and imperialism, how it was integrated as a core-state in global capitalism, and how the Swedish “people’s home” has been paid for by value transfer from global production chains stretching throughout the Global South. This is also the story of Social Democracy and how the struggle in the Second International between two lines — one reformist, nationalist, …

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