Sweden and the world
Nordic, European and global cooperation, and security policy.
This page is translated from Swedish and has not been reviewed by a native speaker. The Swedish version is the original.
Chapter 11 covers Sweden’s international cooperation and its defence. It spans pages 39–41 and contains several dates that are easy to mix up — especially 1945, 1949, 1991, 1995, 2022, and 2024.
Nordic cooperation
Sweden cooperates with Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway. The cooperation happens mainly through the Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers. Both councils agree on various issues, which each country then implements on its own — so they do not make decisions that are binding on member countries.
The EU
EU stands for the European Union and is a political and economic partnership between several European countries. The cooperation began after the Second World War to create peace and stability in Europe.
Sweden has been a member since 1995.
EU countries cooperate in many areas — agriculture, the economy, the environment, trade, and migration — and make joint decisions and draft laws that apply in all member states. The idea is that the countries are stronger together.
The four freedoms mean people can freely study, move, work, and sell goods between EU countries. All EU citizens can work or study in another EU country.
The Council of Europe — not the same as the EU
This is often confused. The Council of Europe is a separate organisation, founded in 1949, that works for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. Within the Council of Europe is the European Court of Human Rights.
The Council of Europe is therefore neither the EU nor part of the EU.
The UN
The UN, the United Nations, was founded in 1945 after the Second World War, and almost all the world’s countries are members. Sweden is a member.
The UN’s purpose is to preserve peace and security in the world, resolve conflicts and stop wars, work for the equal worth and self-determination of all peoples, and work for human rights and freedoms.
Sida
Sida stands for the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and is a government agency. Sida works to reduce poverty and oppression in the world, and through Sida, Sweden supports other countries in developing democracy, gender equality, the economy, and a sustainable society.
The long peace
The last time Sweden fought a war against another state was in the early 1800s. Sweden is one of the few countries in the world to have had such a long unbroken period of peace.
Two events shaped that direction:
- In a war against Russia in 1808–1809, Sweden lost Finland, which had been part of Sweden for nearly 700 years.
- A few years later, Norway was forced into a union with Sweden as a result of the Napoleonic Wars. Norway became an independent state peacefully in 1905.
Since these events, Swedish policy has been focused on avoiding new wars.
The Cold War
After the Second World War, the world and Europe entered a Cold War — a conflict between two blocs: a western one led mainly by the USA and its allies, and an eastern one with the Soviet Union and its allies. The blocs threatened each other with nuclear weapons and strong military powers.
Denmark and Norway joined NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Sweden remained neutral and chose to stay outside NATO during the Cold War.
After 1991
In 1991, the security situation in Europe changed when the Soviet Union collapsed and the Cold War ended. Sweden joined the EU in 1995 and became more integrated into European cooperation.
When Russia attacked Ukraine in 2022, concern about security in the Nordic region grew. Sweden and Finland chose to apply for membership in NATO, a defence alliance aimed at protecting its member states, at nearly the same time.
Sweden became a NATO member in 2024.
Total defence
Sweden is responsible for protecting the country and its residents. Total defence duty means that everyone living in Sweden between the ages of 16 and 70 can be required to help defend the country if needed.
Total defence consists of two parts.
The military defence is the Swedish Armed Forces, which comprise the army, navy, and air force. The Armed Forces are meant to protect Sweden’s territory and independence, and must also be able to take part in international operations.
Sweden has general conscription, which covers all men and women who have turned 18. Those covered answer questions and take tests, after which it is decided who is considered for basic military training. Only some go on to complete the training.
The civil defence means that more than just the military must be able to meet threats and challenges in society. This includes activities that ensure schools, workplaces, and healthcare continue to function during war or crisis.
Dates to keep apart
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1808–1809 | Sweden loses Finland to Russia |
| 1905 | Norway becomes independent, peacefully |
| 1945 | The UN is founded |
| 1949 | The Council of Europe is founded |
| 1991 | The Soviet Union collapses, the Cold War ends |
| 1995 | Sweden joins the EU |
| 2022 | Russia attacks Ukraine; Sweden and Finland apply to NATO |
| 2024 | Sweden becomes a NATO member |
Two age limits not to confuse: total defence duty, ages 16–70, conscription from age 18.
The chapters follow UHR's official study material Sverige i fokus: Read the chapter at UHR