Olle Wästberg
Encyclopedia
Olof "Olle" Mattias Wästberg (born 6 May 1945) is a Swedish
journalist
, politician
and diplomat
, currently serving as Director-General of the Swedish Institute
.
Olle Wästberg was born in Stockholm
, the son of Erik Wästberg and his wife Greta née Hirsch
, and is the younger brother of Per Wästberg
. He received a Candidate of Philosophy
in political science
and economic history
from Stockholm University
in 1972. He is married to Inger Claesson-Wästberg with whom he has two children.
Wästberg started his political career in the Liberal Youth of Sweden, where he served as Secretary-General from 1966 to 1969. He worked as an editorial writer in Expressen
from 1969 to 1971. He was an elected Member of Parliament
for the Liberal People's Party
from 1976 to 1982. During his time as an MP he was noted for his criticism towards the Fälldin government
during the Telub affair
in 1981. From 1983 to 1991 Wästberg was CEO of the company Dagspressens marknadsinformation AB. From 1991 to 1993 he served as State Secretary at the Swedish Ministry of Finance
under Minister for Finance Anne Wibble
. In 1993 Wästberg became editor-in-chief of Expressen, but was fired in 1995 after a conflict with the Bonnier family
owners.
From 1999 to 2004 Wästberg served as Consul-General of Sweden in New York City
. He was appointed as Director-General of the Swedish Institute on 1 March 2005. He has written many articles and books on New York and in 2005 he nominated its former mayor Rudy Giuliani
for the Nobel Peace Prize
for his efforts to severely reduce crime rates in the city http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=1538&date=20050602&PHPSESSID=.
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....
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, currently serving as Director-General of the Swedish Institute
Swedish Institute
The Swedish Institute is a Swedish government agency with the responsibility to spread information about Sweden outside of Sweden. It exists to promote Swedish interests, and to organise exchanges with other countries in different areas of public life, in particular in the spheres of culture,...
.
Olle Wästberg was born in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, the son of Erik Wästberg and his wife Greta née Hirsch
Hirsch
Hirsch may refer to:Places* Hirsch, Buenos Aires, Argentina* Hirsch, Saskatchewan, Canada* Hirsch Observatory, an astronomical observatory in Troy, New YorkPeople * August Hirsch, German physician and medical historian....
, and is the younger brother of Per Wästberg
Per Wästberg
Per Wästberg is a Swedish writer and a member of the Swedish Academy since 1997.Wästberg was born in Stockholm, son of Erik Wästberg and his wife Greta née Hirsch, and holds a degree in literature from Uppsala University...
. He received a Candidate of Philosophy
Candidate of Philosophy
Candidate of Philosophy is any of the following academic degrees: a Bachelor's level, Master's level, higher than Master's level, or Doctorate level degree, depending on the country.- In the United States :...
in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and economic history
Economic history
Economic history is the study of economies or economic phenomena in the past. Analysis in economic history is undertaken using a combination of historical methods, statistical methods and by applying economic theory to historical situations and institutions...
from Stockholm University
Stockholm University
Stockholm University is a state university in Stockholm, Sweden. It has over 28,000 students at four faculties, making it one of the largest universities in Scandinavia. The institution is also frequently regarded as one of the top 100 universities in the world...
in 1972. He is married to Inger Claesson-Wästberg with whom he has two children.
Wästberg started his political career in the Liberal Youth of Sweden, where he served as Secretary-General from 1966 to 1969. He worked as an editorial writer in Expressen
Expressen
Expressen is one of two nationwide evening tabloid newspapers in Sweden, the other being Aftonbladet. Expressen was founded in 1944; its symbol is a wasp and slogans "it stings" or "Expressen to your rescue", always on the reader's side....
from 1969 to 1971. He was an elected Member of Parliament
Parliament of Sweden
The Riksdag is the national legislative assembly of Sweden. The riksdag is a unicameral assembly with 349 members , who are elected on a proportional basis to serve fixed terms of four years...
for the Liberal People's Party
Liberal 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...
from 1976 to 1982. During his time as an MP he was noted for his criticism towards the Fälldin government
Thorbjörn Fälldin
Thorbjörn Fälldin is a Swedish politician. He was Prime Minister of Sweden in three non-consecutive cabinets from 1976 to 1982, and leader of the Swedish Centre Party from 1971 to 1985...
during the Telub affair
Telub affair
The Telub affair was a political scandal in Sweden in the early 1980s.In 1977 the Swedish government-owned company Telub was contacted by a representative of the Libyan military who wanted to explore the possibilities to buy education for a group of Libyan military students. The education was in...
in 1981. From 1983 to 1991 Wästberg was CEO of the company Dagspressens marknadsinformation AB. From 1991 to 1993 he served as State Secretary at the Swedish Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Finance (Sweden)
The Ministry of Finance is a Swedish government ministry responsible for matters relating to economic policy, the central government budget, taxes, banking, security and insurance, international economic work, central, regional and local government....
under Minister for Finance Anne Wibble
Anne Wibble
Anne Wibble was a Swedish politician . From 1991 to 1994 she served as Minister for Finance. She was the daughter of Bertil Ohlin, a Nobel laureate....
. In 1993 Wästberg became editor-in-chief of Expressen, but was fired in 1995 after a conflict with the Bonnier family
Bonnier family
The Bonnier family is a wealthy Swedish family of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, active in the publishing business since the late-18th century. The family controls the Swedish company Bonnier AB, with an annual revenue in 2008 of US$ 4.13 billion ....
owners.
From 1999 to 2004 Wästberg served as Consul-General of Sweden in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He was appointed as Director-General of the Swedish Institute on 1 March 2005. He has written many articles and books on New York and in 2005 he nominated its former mayor Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani KBE is an American lawyer, businessman, and politician from New York. He served as Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001....
for the Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
for his efforts to severely reduce crime rates in the city http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=1538&date=20050602&PHPSESSID=.
External links
- Olle Wästberg – personal website