March 21, 2010
Published: 27 Oct 09 08:54 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/22898/20091027/
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Sweden should consider joining its Nordic neighbours in forming a five-country federation in order to increase the region’s weight on the international stage, a Swedish historian proposes.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
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"He believes that a unified Nordic region is completely realistic"
Is it realistic or not?
"However, Wetterberg admits that a unitary Nordic state isn't realistic"
"He believes that a unified Nordic region is completely realistic"
Is it realistic or not?'
He's apparently saying that a unitary state is not realistic, but a loosely bound federal state would be. So you wouldn't turn the region into a unitary state like France, but into a federation or confederation, perhaps like Switzerland.
I'm 101% in favor.
But don't forget the Faroe anf Greenland!
Considering that Finland didn't have enough to eat as recently as the 1950s, had to make actual war reparations to maintain their independence post WW II, and speak a language unlike almost any tongue on earth, I think Finland has done a superb job of post-colonial economic and social development. I just read another of those country comparisons and Finland ranks as the most successful society on earth. You may argue the methodology of these things but they aren't totally ridiculous.
http://www.businessinsider.com/america-is-the-worlds-ninth-best-country-2009-10
So the Finns are a bit touchy about Swedish colonialism. Does it really keep them from cooperating and trading with their neighbors? Didn't think so.
We all know that Finland was historically part of Sweden and from 1809 an autonomous Grand Duchy within the Russian Empire, which led to independence and civil war. At least they had the fortitude and courage to resist the Russians during the Winter War and Continuation War.
Has Sweden actually accomplished anything during the past 100 years?
It include Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and others.
Do anyone remember how the Kalmar Union ended ? I know this was 500 years ago, but it did not lead to a great development of the nations because of the interest struggles...anyways...I doubt this will happen someday.
Otherwise Norwegian seems to be the easiest to learn and understand.
Anyway I think this is a great idea and wish it would come about.
But now I live in Sweden and can see the differences between the countries up close, I think it would be a horrible idea. The idea wouldn't be swallowed for several reasons. One of them would be that Sweden would insist on Denmark implementing a restrictive alcohol policy which the Danes don't want. The fact is that right now Denmark is in a better position to teach Sweden and the rest of the Nordic countries that you don't have to live in an extremely restrictive "drug-free" society. This union would make it 100 times more difficult for Denmark to fully legalize cannabis, just as the Netherlands would prefer to fully legalize and regulate cannabis but cannot due to EU law and UN treaties which try to tell the Dutch that the question of whether adults should be allowed to consume cannabis recreationally or not isn't for individual countries to decide, but for all EU countries to decide. All that does is prevent a diversity of governmental models from taking shape so that different countries can view different ways of handling different things.
But how would this union effect the culture/mentality of the citizens and what does this mean for defense? Would Norway/Denmark/Iceland leave NATO? That's impossible but perhaps Finland/Sweden join.
personally, i think all the nordic countries have so much potential and they are all such good places to live (that's not just me, check out the Human Development Index) that a federation can be nothing but good. and such a thing will have enormous cultural, economic, defence and welfare benefits for all. another good step can be strengthening the nodric council and giving it EU like powers (not in all areas but some). that way the countries can remain independent and be united at once. it'll be sort of like a bloc within the EU.
Seriously though, the constitutions of all countries would have to change significantly, and there would be overwhelming rejection from the mundanes. In every sense it would help all of the countries. Denmark's wind farms, Norway's fisheries, Hydro dam's and oil fields, Island's geographic location (Militarily), Sweden's Pytt i Panna and Finland's cheap booze.
There is nothing to loose except their identity, and really were all human aren't we?