Sweden avoided to be involved in armed conflicts and carried out a policy of non-alignment in peacetime and neutrality in war. Some of the questions that the workshop will address are the following: In what ways is Sweden’s policy of non-alignment, neutrality, and peace a unique historical experience? What has the role of non-state or semi-state agents and institutions been in promoting peace? Which external and internal factors have been most important in defining Sweden’s non-alignment and neutrality? To what extent did the policies reflect national and/or domestic party interests?

If you would like to participate contact Nevra Biltekin (Nevra.Biltekin@historia.su.se) to receive texts prior to the workshop.

Organizing committee: Nevra Biltekin, Leos Müller, Magnus Petersson & Aryo Makko

Program:

Christopher Seiberlich, University of Tübingen: "Equality for peace. The »North-South Conflict« and social democratic foreign policy in West Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden"

Janne Väistö, Åbo Akademi University: "Finland, Sweden and Swedish-speaking Finns in a Cold War Context"

Fredrik Egefur, Lund University: "Swedish Movements for Peace 1883-1917: An International Perspective"

Leos Müller, Stockholm University: "Neutrality and Sweden’s foreign policy, 1794-1856"

Anne Hedén, Swedish Labour Movement’s Archives and Library: "The Swedish Lotta Movement and it’s Neighbors: Navigating Neutrality, Peace Building and Women’s Issues in the Nordic/Scandinavian Context"

Jacob Westberg, Swedish Defence University: "Why Small States Manage to Stay Out of Wars: Explaining Sweden’s 200 Years of Peace"

The detailed program can be downloaded below.