I've been rambling about this topic a few times, most recently wrt a topic about "konloniträdgårdar" where @Everdoor wanted more information, here you go :) (well at least it's a starting point!)
I've been rambling about this topic a few times, most recently wrt a topic about "konloniträdgårdar" where @Everdoor wanted more information, here you go :) (well at least it's a starting point!)
I was born in Sweden and both my parents migrated here, so both Swedish and not, kind of? I think the fundamental reason this happened in Sweden is the core panic around trying to fit in, not make...
I was born in Sweden and both my parents migrated here, so both Swedish and not, kind of?
I think the fundamental reason this happened in Sweden is the core panic around trying to fit in, not make any mistakes and to not stir shit up that swedish people, society and culture is soaked in.
I don't think it's a coincidence that Swedish has the fairly unique word "lagom" which is best translated to English by "the Goldilocks fit" (so it's not a perfect fit nor a good enough fit, but something in between and also determined by having your feelers out!)
Somehow the history and being what I call a conquering people ties into this, but I haven't figured that part out yet.
Other things I think are important (unordered and incomplete list): protestantism, the sami genocide, the viking romantication, the eugenics institute, Carl von Linné, Alfred Nobel, etc
What this results in is a society holding up it's finger in the wind and then trying to take a lead to show the cool kids that we actually do fit in and they should play with us, but when you are in front you can't see what's going on behind you so you don't notice when the others make adjustments until you realise you're alone and stick your finger up again! (Something like that anyway)
Since the 1980's the cool kids have been first the UK and then the US so Sweden lost touch with it's Nordic and later European neighbours.
I understand it is vague and in some ways contradictory, I'm sorry about that, it's the best I can do!
I've been rambling about this topic a few times, most recently wrt a topic about "konloniträdgårdar" where @Everdoor wanted more information, here you go :) (well at least it's a starting point!)
I was born in Sweden and both my parents migrated here, so both Swedish and not, kind of?
I think the fundamental reason this happened in Sweden is the core panic around trying to fit in, not make any mistakes and to not stir shit up that swedish people, society and culture is soaked in.
I don't think it's a coincidence that Swedish has the fairly unique word "lagom" which is best translated to English by "the Goldilocks fit" (so it's not a perfect fit nor a good enough fit, but something in between and also determined by having your feelers out!)
Somehow the history and being what I call a conquering people ties into this, but I haven't figured that part out yet.
Other things I think are important (unordered and incomplete list): protestantism, the sami genocide, the viking romantication, the eugenics institute, Carl von Linné, Alfred Nobel, etc
What this results in is a society holding up it's finger in the wind and then trying to take a lead to show the cool kids that we actually do fit in and they should play with us, but when you are in front you can't see what's going on behind you so you don't notice when the others make adjustments until you realise you're alone and stick your finger up again! (Something like that anyway)
Since the 1980's the cool kids have been first the UK and then the US so Sweden lost touch with it's Nordic and later European neighbours.
I understand it is vague and in some ways contradictory, I'm sorry about that, it's the best I can do!