Liberalism and centrism in Sweden
Encyclopedia
This article gives an overview of liberalism and centrism in Sweden
. It is limited to liberal
and centrist parties
with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it isn't necessary so that parties labeled themselves as a liberal party.
(Folkpartiet Liberalerna, member LI
, ELDR) calls itself a center liberal party. The Centre Party
(Centerpartiet, member ELDR) is an agrarian party that gradually develops into a more or less liberal party. The liberal character is however disputed.
the following Swedish thinkers are included:
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. It is limited to liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
and centrist parties
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it isn't necessary so that parties labeled themselves as a liberal party.
Background
Liberalism has been a major force in Sweden since the 19th century. Nowadays the Liberal People's PartyLiberal People's Party (Sweden)
The Liberal People's Party is a political party in Sweden. The party advocates social liberalism and is part of the governing centre-right coalition The Alliance, which achieved a majority in the general election of 17 September 2006...
(Folkpartiet Liberalerna, member LI
Liberal International
Liberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
, ELDR) calls itself a center liberal party. The Centre Party
Centre Party (Sweden)
The Centre Party is a centrist political party in Sweden. The party maintains close ties to rural Sweden and describes itself as "a green social liberal party". The ideology is sometimes called agrarian, but in a European context, the Centre Party can perhaps best be characterized as social...
(Centerpartiet, member ELDR) is an agrarian party that gradually develops into a more or less liberal party. The liberal character is however disputed.
From People's Party to People's Party Liberals
- 1895: The liberal wing of the Old Party of the Gentry (''Gamla Lantmannapartiet) seceded and formed the People's PartyLiberal People's Party (Sweden)The Liberal People's Party is a political party in Sweden. The party advocates social liberalism and is part of the governing centre-right coalition The Alliance, which achieved a majority in the general election of 17 September 2006...
(Folkpartiet) - 1900: The liberals are reorganised into the Liberal Coalition PartyLiberal Coalition PartyThe Liberal Coalition Party was a political party in Sweden represented in the Swedish parliament from 1900 to 1924. The party was in government from 1905 to 1906 and from 1911 to 1914 under the leadership of Karl Staaff, and from 1917 to 1920 under the leadership of Nils Edén.In 1924 the party...
/Freeminded National Association (Liberala Samlingspartiet/Frisinnade Landsföreningen) - 1922: The party fell apart into the Freeminded People's PartyFreeminded People's Party (Sweden)The Freeminded People's Party was a political party in Sweden represented in the Riksdag from 1924 to 1935. It was formed in 1924 by the pro-ban majority of the Liberal Coalition Party as a consequence of the split over the issue on alcohol prohibition...
/Freeminded National Association (Frisinnade Folkpartiet/Frisinnade Landsföreningen) and the ⇒ Liberal Party of Sweden - 1934: Both parties re-united into the People's PartyLiberal People's Party (Sweden)The Liberal People's Party is a political party in Sweden. The party advocates social liberalism and is part of the governing centre-right coalition The Alliance, which achieved a majority in the general election of 17 September 2006...
(Folkpartiet) - 1990: The party is renamed People's Party - LiberalsLiberal People's Party (Sweden)The Liberal People's Party is a political party in Sweden. The party advocates social liberalism and is part of the governing centre-right coalition The Alliance, which achieved a majority in the general election of 17 September 2006...
(Folkpartiet Liberalerna)
Liberal Party of Sweden
- 1922: The Liberal Coalition Party fell apart into the ⇒ Freeminded People's Party and the Liberal Party of SwedenLiberal Party of SwedenThe Liberal Party of Sweden was a political party in Sweden. It was formed in 1923 by the anti-prohibition minority of the Liberal Coalition Party as a consequence of the split over the issue on alcohol prohibition...
(Sveriges Liberala Parti) - 1934: Both parties re-united into the ⇒ People's Party
Centre Party
- 1958: The agrarian Rural Party - Farmers' League (Landbygdspartiet Bondeförbundet) renamed itself into Centre PartyCentre Party (Sweden)The Centre Party is a centrist political party in Sweden. The party maintains close ties to rural Sweden and describes itself as "a green social liberal party". The ideology is sometimes called agrarian, but in a European context, the Centre Party can perhaps best be characterized as social...
(Centerpartiet) and evolved gradually from an agrarian into a more liberal direction.
Liberal leaders
- Folkpartiet Liberalerna: Bertil OhlinBertil OhlinBertil Gotthard Ohlin was a Swedish economist and politician. He was a professor of economics at the Stockholm School of Economics from 1929 to 1965. He was also leader of the People's Party, a social-liberal party which at the time was the largest party in opposition to the governing Social...
- Gunnar HelénGunnar HelénGunnar Helén, was a Swedish liberal politician. He was party leader of Liberal People's Party 1969-1975, Governor of Kronoberg County 1965-1970 and of Stockholm County 1977-1984....
- Per AhlmarkPer AhlmarkPer Axel Ahlmark is a Swedish writer and former politician. He was the leader of the Liberal People's Party from 1975 to 1978, and Minister for Employment and Deputy Prime Minister in the Swedish government from 1976 to 1978...
- Ola UllstenOla UllstenStig Kjell Olof Ullsten is a Swedish liberal politician, former Prime Minister of Sweden and former leader of the Swedish Liberal People's Party.-Background and early career:...
- Bengt WesterbergBengt WesterbergBengt Carl Gustaf Westerberg was a Swedish politician. He is the son of Carl-Erik Westerberg and his wife Barbro...
- Maria LeissnerMaria LeissnerMaria Leissner is a Swedish politician and former party leader of the Swedish Liberal People's Party . Between 2000-2004 she was Sweden's ambassador to Guatemala. In January 2007 she was appointed Ambassador-at-Large for Democracy.-External links:*...
- Lars LeijonborgLars LeijonborgLars Erik Ansgar Leijonborg is a Swedish politician, Minister for Higher Education and Research 2006-2009 and Head of the Ministry of Education and Research 2006-2007...
- Jan BjörklundJan BjörklundJan Arne Björklund is a Swedish politician. He is the leader of the Liberal People's Party and serves as Minister for Education and Deputy Prime Minister in the Swedish government.- Education and military career :...
Liberal thinkers
In the Contributions to liberal theoryContributions to liberal theory
Individual contributors to classical liberalism and political liberalism are associated with philosophers of the Enlightenment. Liberalism as a specifically named ideology begins in the late 18th century as a movement towards self-government and away from aristocracy...
the following Swedish thinkers are included:
- Anders ChydeniusAnders ChydeniusAnders Chydenius was the leading classical liberal of Nordic history. Born in Sotkamo, Ostrobothnia, Sweden and having studied under Pehr Kalm at the Royal Academy of Åbo, Chydenius became a priest, Enlightenment philosopher and member of the Swedish Riksdag of the Estates.The world's first...
(1729-1803) - Bertil OhlinBertil OhlinBertil Gotthard Ohlin was a Swedish economist and politician. He was a professor of economics at the Stockholm School of Economics from 1929 to 1965. He was also leader of the People's Party, a social-liberal party which at the time was the largest party in opposition to the governing Social...
(1899-1979)
See also
- History of SwedenHistory of SwedenModern Sweden started out of the Kalmar Union formed in 1397 and by the unification of the country by King Gustav Vasa in the 16th century. In the 17th century Sweden expanded its territories to form the Swedish empire. Most of these conquered territories had to be given up during the 18th century...
- Politics of SwedenPolitics of SwedenPolitics of Sweden takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic constitutional monarchy. Executive power is exercised by the government, led by the Prime Minister of Sweden. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament, elected within a multi-party...
- List of political parties in Sweden