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Conservatives need some Swedish love Rampant individualism could save the Tories

Love is kind (VI Images via Getty Images)


August 17, 2022   5 mins

Sweden has long presented a puzzle to foreign observers. The Left tends to extoll the perceived virtues of social solidarity, collectivist values, and the “cradle-to-grave” welfare state. The Right, on the other hand, while largely agreeing with the basic welfare narrative, tends to paint it in darker colours, conjuring up a more dystopian vision of high taxes and overbearing regulations. In this view, Sweden is a nanny state that discourages initiative, innovation and entrepreneurship in favour of excessive social security that inevitably results in stagnation and sclerosis.

And yet conservatives — particularly in Britain’s currently-flailing governing party — have a lot to learn from Sweden. The foreign obsession with the nation’s vaguely socialistic welfare system is myopic — and is happily beginning to wane. Increasingly, Sweden is receiving attention for its remarkable economy. There is enthusiastic talk of the Nordic tiger economies at Davos, while pro-business publications such as The Economist and The Financial Times praise the Nordic model of capitalism. The former praised Sweden’s economy for being “as strong as Pippi Longstocking”; indeed, the nation close to tops international rankings when it comes to economic clout and innovation, as well as quality of life.

Behind this success lies a moral logic that defies the stereotype that Sweden is based on collectivist values such as equality and solidarity. Upon closer inspection, it appears that the lynchpin of the Swedish social contract is an alliance between the state and the individual — one I have named “statist individualism”. In our high-trust society, the state is viewed more as friend than foe. This contrasts sharply with the Anglo-Saxon suspicion of the state, which is combined with a stress on “family values” and the supposed virtues of civil society. In Sweden, the state is welcomed as a liberator of individuals from traditional, unequal, hierarchical and patriarchal organisation — including the family, ethnic and religious communities, and charities.

If we look at the historical emergence of modern Sweden, it becomes clear that far from engaging in classical socialist policies, such as nationalising banks or private enterprise, Swedish Social Democrats made their peace with capitalists and businessmen in the late Thirties, having learned some hard lessons at the polls in 1928. Instead of radically re-organising the economy, they turned to a far more popular political agenda, namely social and family policy.

The common denominator for this political struggle was the goal of eliminating the need for charity and philanthropy. It was commonly seen as demeaning to receive alms, cap-in-hand, even if it created a warm, fuzzy feeling in the bellies of the givers. The central aim of the social movement of the 19th and 20th centuries was to replace charity with rights. The essence of the new social contract was clear and simple: citizens have both the right and duty to work, and to pay taxes, which finance social rights and common infrastructure. The fundamental logic was one of reciprocity over charity, autonomy over dependence, voluntary relations over inscribed familial duties. In practice, this entailed the gradual introduction of social and family policies, reforms of the tax system, and institutions that served to free individuals — the working class, women, children — from unequal power-relationships.

This social contract depends on what I like to call “the Swedish theory of love”. Authentic human relationships are possible only between autonomous and equal individuals who enter voluntarily into close relations. This is, of course, shocking news to those many non-Swedes who believe that interdependency is the very stuff of love. But in Sweden this ethos informs society as a whole. Despite the traditional image of Sweden as a collectivist social democracy, comparative data from the World Values Survey suggests that Sweden is possibly the most individualistic society in the world.

In 1971, for instance, the nation introduced individual taxation. In perhaps the most radical reform in modern Sweden, the individual — not the family — was symbolically and fiscally recognised as the fundamental unit of society. Even 50 years later, individual taxation is rare globally. In the United States, for example, the family is the fundamental economic unit; the first question on the tax return is: “Are you head of household”? If one checks “yes”, the follow-up question is: how many dependents do you have? The figure then translates into deductions and tax advantages.

In Sweden, these questions would be unthinkable. Indeed, the very purpose of the 1971 reform was to promote female labour participation, which was effectively discouraged before (if a woman began earning money her additional income would be heavily taxed). The tax reform was then followed up by the introduction of universal daycare to make it possible for both parents to work while also having children.

There were several other key reforms during this period. Student loans were offered to all, regardless of income or family wealth. Corporal punishment of children was outlawed; indeed, there was a much stronger emphasis on children’s rights than parental rights. The legal and financial obligation to care for the elderly was transferred from the family to the state.

It seems mysterious that a nominally socialist country could sport such a powerful brand of capitalism. But note the harmony between the Swedish model and the fundamental principle of the market — that the basic unit of society is the individual, and a central purpose of policy should be to invest in human capital and maximise individual autonomy. That is the key to the vitality of the Swedish economy.

This emphasis on individualism and free enterprise is also what makes the Swedish model so attractive not only to Social Democrats devoted to equal opportunity but also to Swedish Conservatives and market liberals — who favour the investments in human capital and opportunities for social mobility that are so central to an efficient market society. For liberals of this bent, the large role afforded to the state is rendered reasonably palatable, as the rhetorical focus shifts from the social welfare state to what I like to call the “individual investment society”.

But what works for the Swedish centre-Right might not sit well with the British Conservatives. Some may agree that the goal of combining social security with free enterprise is laudable in the abstract. Yet when it comes to embracing Swedish-style statist individualism, a number of considerable obstacles would seem to loom. Not only might one expect resistance from social conservatives for whom family values and communitarian Big Society ideals are dear, but both Truss and Sunak also seem more interested in invoking Thatcher and and on lowering taxes and limiting state power.

The radical individualism of Sweden also causes problems for the Anglo-Saxon Left, not least the “progressive” Left that has largely abandoned economic policy and civic universalism in favour of multiculturalism and the politics of identity. The focus is on culture war tactics, meaning the majoritarian politics aimed at actually taking control of the state are abandoned. Instead, the Left devolves into a cacophonic coalition of often conflicting group claims.

Ultimately, the modern, Anglo-Saxon Left and Right both adhere to communitarian rather than individualist values and ideals. On the Right we find a romantic view of the traditional family, of charities and churches; on the Left we encounter a celebration of “community” and identity-based groups that, it is argued, warrant special regard and recognition, and repayment for past sins, from slavery to discrimination.

Just as the Swedish experience suggests individualism does not lead to narcissism, alienation and anomie, it also shows that the only possible common denominator for an inclusive, just and sustainable social contract is the individual citizen. In the realm of voluntary society, we may well freely choose to associate with those who are like us in various ways — on the grounds of faith, ethnicity, sports or stamp collection. But the state would do well to stay focused on the individual citizen when it comes to the logic of rights and duties. Sweden’s individualistic, civic universalism was built on an optimism that set aside grievances relating to past victimhood. Unlike today’s British conservatives or identity-driven activists, it looked ahead.

Lars Trägårdh is, with Henrik Berggren, the author of The Swedish Theory of Love, available on 30 August. 


Lars Trägårdh is a professor of history at Marie Cederschiöld University in Stockholm. Along with Henrik Berggren, he is the author of the forthcoming book The Swedish Theory of Love.


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R Wright
R Wright
2 years ago

All of this sounds lovely, but the key phrase you use is ‘high trust society’. We shall see how long that lasts with a few million more Somalis and Eritreans. London may have issues but unlike Malmo it doesn’t have grenade attacks in broad daylight.

Jean Merlin von Agris
Jean Merlin von Agris
2 years ago
Reply to  R Wright

Sweden has a problem with criminal gangs, no disagreement here. And there have been some outrageous attacks in the past years. But it really only affects people’s life as much as they let it affect them.
I have met a Swedish lady from the countryside who wouldn’t dare to go through Malmö at night. She also advised me to cross the street when I see someone Afghan-looking. There are people like her who live in a media bubble that feeds their paranoia every day. But as much as Sweden has a problem with crime (the whole world has), those people have a problem with their media consumption and the way they look at the world.
Personally, I have lived in Malmö myself for some months and met a lot of people happily living there without any worries. Needless to say I felt safe at all times as I felt save everywhere on the world, or rather everywhere in Europe. I’ve been to places where you have to be cautious. I’ve lived in Mexico City for some months. I was quite careless there, too, and nothing bad happened to me, but I’ve met several people who have been robbed at gunpoint. You don’t have this level of insecurity anywhere in Europe. And most definitely not in Sweden.
Sweden is extremely safe, and it just feels so odd that some people try to make it look like it isn’t. You can become the victim of a crime anywhere. I could start talking about knife attacks in London I’ve heard of in the media. But to whose benefit?
I’ve migrated from Germany to Sweden due to lockdowns and mask mandates. One of the major differences I noted is the media focus. Swedish media focuses much more on individual crimes than German media (not sure about British for comparison). Where all the news in Germany are about big political topics, the war in Ukraine, the pandemic, climate change…, in Sweden the news is often about crime (e.g. when there is a shooting or a knife attack) and court processes. Yesterday, I’ve read a headline on a Swedish bus that the guy who killed many people with his car in the German town of Trier was sentenced to life in prison. I haven’t seen this in the German headlines. I think this focus on crime in the media, is a big part for the explanation why Sweden is notoriously seen as more criminal and dangerous than it is, including by Swedes themselves. Another part of the explanation is the crime itself, of course, whose existence I don’t deny. But it’s mostly gangs fighting each other and nothing that affects my everyday life at all.

Rasmus Fogh
Rasmus Fogh
2 years ago

Behind this success lies a moral logic that defies the stereotype that Sweden is based on collectivist values such as equality and solidarity. Upon closer inspection, it appears that the lynchpin of the Swedish social contract is an alliance between the state and the individual — one I have named “statist individualism”. In our high-trust society, the state is viewed more as friend than foe.

One could put it that Sweden *is* based on collectivist values such as equality and solidarity, but that the maintenance of these values is left to a central state and its associated bureaucracy, with people providing mainly a general sense of egalitarianism and an obedience to the group opinion that the state personifies. People are individuals, yes, but conformist individuals – which is not that strange if you consider that you are just one person alone against the large forces of the state and public opinion.

Seen from neighbouring countries ‘statist individualism’ seems to be very much about the ‘statist’ part. Swedes are stereotypically more subservient to public opinion and elite dictates than e.g. Danes. You could make a theory out of it: If you systematically weaken the support structures that hold people together in families and community groups, a trusted (it is, no disagreement there) state can take their place and become also a moral authority, a sort of common superego, in the absence of competition. A case in point might be the apparently much greater support for ‘Me Too’ in Sweden than Denmark. Once it is ‘official’ that things need to change people line in, with less room for individuals deciding that it is all too much.

Last edited 2 years ago by Rasmus Fogh
Jay Gls
Jay Gls
2 years ago

I never thought I would see an UnHerd article praising individualism over communitarianism. It feels more like a Guardian column.
I have lived in Sweden and although it is very comfortable, it’s also one of the loneliest places I’ve experienced. Welfare is definitely insufficiently developed in the UK, but it should be a means not an ends. A means to help people live while also driving them towards their communities and encouraging family harmony. It’s amazing the level of reconciliation that can be achieved when the best alternative is undesirable.

Linda Hutchinson
Linda Hutchinson
2 years ago
Reply to  Jay Gls

It came as a surprise to me when, during the COVID lock down, commentators were discussing the Swedish approach and in a number of cases they remarked. in passing, that Sweden has the highest number of single person households in Europe.
(and no this is not to start a thread about COVID here)

Samir Iker
Samir Iker
2 years ago

One aspect of Swedish “socialism” is the extent to which women are able to rely on the state as a substitute (in financial terms) for a breadwinner husband.

The massive numbers of government or quasi government workers in care, local councils etc, with a comfortable job and “income” for life, paid out of taxes?
Mostly women.

The ones working in the industries generating those taxes, tech, industry, even financial services?
Largely men.

You essentially have married couples staying separately in their own homes, with “husbands” paying alimony from day one via the government.

Ben J
Ben J
2 years ago

Why are we comparing a relatively isolated, largely monocultural country with a population not much larger than London’s with the UK? Economies of scale matter. Finland’s system is intriguing and appealing, but again very suited to a small – not historically global – country. Apples and oranges.

Andrew Wise
Andrew Wise
2 years ago

 pro-business publications such as The Economist and The Financial Times praise the Nordic model of capitalism.

An interesting new definition of pro business 🙂

Mr Sketerzen Bhoto
Mr Sketerzen Bhoto
2 years ago
Reply to  Andrew Wise

Both publications are clearly pro business.

Philip Tisdall
Philip Tisdall
2 years ago

This reminds me of the idea that communism can only work in families and socialism can only work in churches. This allows for the necessary judgement and consensus. Sweden has 10 million people.

Nicky Samengo-Turner
Nicky Samengo-Turner
2 years ago

I was amazed as to how many Swedish parents there are at Eton gatherings….

CHARLES STANHOPE
CHARLES STANHOPE
2 years ago

A very positive sign given the influx of ‘others’.

Roy Mullins
Roy Mullins
2 years ago

What the state giveth, the state can taketh away. I’d sooner rely on myself – and I love my family !

Last edited 2 years ago by Roy Mullins
Lucas D
Lucas D
2 years ago

What an interesting perspective, and really good to learn about this often feted society that we so clearly caricature and misunderstand as we try and slot it into our world view.

So let me do just that again: Sweden is rather unicultural. How possible is individual statism in multicultural Britain?

Rasmus Fogh
Rasmus Fogh
2 years ago
Reply to  Lucas D

Good point. It is interesting to compare with Sweden with Denmark. There are lots of things in common: A historically unicultural, uniracial and unireligious society. High trust. An egalitarian streak enforced by social controls against not fitting in (‘Jante-loven’ for those who know). Similar welfare models where the state takes over the care that used to be done by families. The big difference may be the ‘statist’ part, the state and elite as a social superego. Also maybe a certain arrogance – no Dane would dream of publishing the ‘Danish Society’ as a model for export, it would be at once an unseemly way of putting yourself above others, an unrealistic project, and a target for ridicule.

The prime minister of one of the new Eastern European countries (Slovakia?) supposedly said that he had indeed considered implementing a Scandinavian welfare state, but had been forced to abandon the project because the country suffered from a critical shortage of Scandinavians. Other countries should take note.

Last edited 2 years ago by Rasmus Fogh
Colin MacDonald
Colin MacDonald
2 years ago
Reply to  Rasmus Fogh

I’ve often thought that behind every failed economic model, every Western attempt to advance the common weal through statist methods you’ll find Sweden, it’s the ultimate rebuff to conservatives, because it’s hard to deny that Sweden works quite well. But as you say, there’s a worldwide shortage of Scandinavians. So here in Scotland for instance, we might admire Scandinavians, think we’re a bit Scandinavian, but we’re NOT Scandanavian. It’s a cargo cult mentality, we think that if we can just tax and spend like Sweden, Volvo and Ericsson will just pop out of the ground.

CHARLES STANHOPE
CHARLES STANHOPE
2 years ago

Sweden made an absolutely fortune from exporting literally millions of tons of iron ore to Germany in World War II.
Thus ‘cushioned’ they were able to indulge in their disastrous social welfare experiment, no doubt to somehow exculpate themselves from the guilt of having kept Adolph & Co going for so long.

Rasmus Fogh
Rasmus Fogh
2 years ago

Why disastrous? Seems to work pretty well, no?

CHARLES STANHOPE
CHARLES STANHOPE
2 years ago
Reply to  Rasmus Fogh

Well yes in some ways, the suicide rate has dropped dramatically in recent decades, but now we have the ‘immigration time bomb’ to look forward to.
The fact that these immigrants are throwing hand grenades around in Malmo, as mentioned by another commentator does not bode well.
What would we say if hand grenades were being tossed around in say Rotherham or Stow-on—the-Wold?

Christian Moon
Christian Moon
2 years ago

Do you think they’d let you even find out? About hand grenades in Rotherham.

CHARLES STANHOPE
CHARLES STANHOPE
2 years ago
Reply to  Christian Moon

Hard to hide on CCTV.

Doug Pingel
Doug Pingel
2 years ago

And quite a lot of ball-bearings to both sides!

SIMON WOLF
SIMON WOLF
2 years ago

Never been to Sweden but might suggest there are also other factors such as having to cope with the weather – icy winters with summers where there is little darkness which produces a problem solving mentality and resilence.Add in govts that for decades have been trying to clampdown on alcohol abuse.Like Switzerland avoiding being involved in the first and 2nd world wars helps.

Sam Agnew
Sam Agnew
2 years ago

Sounds dreadful

Rob Parker
Rob Parker
2 years ago

A rather idealistic portrait of Sweden that may have held some truth 20 years ago, but ignores the reality of a now increasingly fragmented country of ghetoised ethnic communities, and suburban/ rural white Swedes who live in parallel universes.

Last edited 2 years ago by Rob Parker
chris sullivan
chris sullivan
2 years ago

it seems that the swedes are the only grown ups in the room in many ways !!