Uncovering Sweden in an International Context with Carl Marklund

Many commentators talk about the Nordics as successful societies that should be emulated. But criticism of the Nordic countries is equally widespread. In this interview, Carl Marklund, researcher and research director at the Institute for Contemporary History at Södertörn University, traces how some of Sweden’s policymaking successes and failures since the Cold War have been perceived in Sweden itself as well as outside the region, including:

• Sweden’s early involvement in humanitarianism;
• The ‘utopian trap’;
• Sweden-bashing;
• Perspectives on social engineering.

This is the tenth virtual visit around the Nordic countries in the podcast series ’The Nordics Uncovered: Critical Voices from the Region’. Carl was interviewed by editor of nordics.info Nicola Witcombe in June 2021 over Zoom. He has researched and written about Sweden's reputation abroad and how this is reflected in domestic policymaking and self-perception.

Podcast