Tage Erlander
Encyclopedia
was a Swedish
politician
. He was the leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Party
and Prime Minister of Sweden
from 1946 to 1969. His uninterrupted tenure of 23 years as head of government is a record for parliamentary democracies, with the popular expression "Sweden's longest Prime Minister" referring to both his physical stature and tenure.
Ascending to the World War II coalition government
in 1944, Erlander rose unexpectedly to leadership upon the death of Prime Minister Per Albin Hansson
in October 1946, cementing the position of the Social Democratic Party as the virtual government of Sweden. Known for his moderation, pragmatism and self-irony, Erlander constantly sought approval from the liberal-conservative opposition for his policies, de facto dropping all pretences of instating republic or wide-scale nationalizations whilst introducing reforms such as universal health insurance, pension additions
and a growing public sector while stopping short of raising tax levels above the average OECD levels at the time. In 1951-1957, he espoused a coalition government
with Peasants' League
chairman Gunnar Hedlund
in order to secure majority and stability, led by himself.
In foreign policy, he initially sought an alliance of Nordic countries, but without success, instead maintaining strict neutrality while building up among the most impressive armed forces in the world (surpassed only by the United States
, the Soviet Union
and Israel
in terms of per-capita spending), making the Swedish Air Force
the third largest in the world, while ultimately rejecting nuclear capability, signing the nuclear non-proliferation treaty
in 1968. Erlander's mandate coincided with the post-World War II economic expansion
, in Sweden known as the record years
.
Resigning after his seventh and most successful general election
(in which his Social Democrats surpassed all four opposition parties in terms of seats) in the midst of constitutional reforms, Erlander was succeeded by his long-time novice and friend, Olof Palme
. Dying on June 21, 1985 at age 84, Erlander's funeral procession crossed the country from Stockholm to his home town of Ransäter in triumph for his final interment.
, Värmland County
as son of the school teacher Erik Gustaf Erlander (1859–1936). His mother was Alma Nilsson (1869–1961). As a student at Lund University
he was heavily involved in student politics and met many radical students. He graduated in political science and economics in 1928. Erlander was a member of the editorial staff of the encyclopedia Svensk Upplagsbok from 1929 to 1938. In 1930 he married Aina Andersson, who became Aina Erlander
.
Tage Erlander was elected to the municipal council
in Lund
in 1930, became a member of parliament in 1932, and was appointed a State Secretary
at the Ministry of Social Affairs in 1938. As State Secretary at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Erlander was one of the most senior officials responsible for the establishment of internment camps in Sweden
during World War II
. In the camps, which were kept secret to the Swedish public, people from various ethnic minorities as well as political dissidents were interned, particularly Communists and Soviet Union sympathisers.
In 1942, State Secretary Erlander together with then Minister for Social Affairs Gustav Möller
initiated a nation-wide registration of the Swedish Travellers, a branch of the Romani people that has been resident in Sweden for half a millennium. The purpose of the registration was, according to a newspaper article, to make the base for "radical measures" against this "bottom layer of the Swedish population". In Norway
, similar lists were established that were handed over to the Nazis during the German occupation of Norway
.
Erlander ascended to the cabinet in 1944 as Minister without Portfolio
, a post he held to the next year, when he became Minister for Education. When Prime Minister Per Albin Hansson
suddenly died in 1946, Erlander was unexpectedly chosen as the successor and subsequently also as the leader of the party.
Retaining the positions of the Social Democrats from a potent Liberal opposition under Bertil Ohlin
in his first election
, he later formed a coalition with the Centre Party
, at the time the Peasants' League between 1951 and 1957. His working relationship with the party's leader, Gunnar Hedlund
(Minister for Home Affairs in the coalition government), is known to have been good.
Erlander coined the phrase "the strong society", describing a society with a growing public sector taking care of the growing demand on many services that an affluent society creates. The public sector, particularly its welfare state institutions grew considerably during his tenure as Prime Minister, while nationalizations were rare. In order to maintain employment for his vast electorate and Swedish sovereignty as a non-NATO member, the armed forces was greatly expanded, reaching an impressive level by the 1960s, while nuclear capability was ultimately dropped after outcries not least from the Social Democratic Women's League. The question of nuclear weapons as a means to deter a possible attack remained a divisive factor in Swedish society and among Social Democrats, and prompted diplomatic agreements with the United States ex officio guaranteeing intervention in that case of an invasion. Sweden signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty
in 1968, dropping all pretences of developing a nuclear weapon.
Resigning at age 68 in 1969, with an absolute majority for the Social Democrats in the second chamber since 1968, Erlander was succeeded by 42-year old Olof Palme
, who - although more radical - had in many ways been Erlander's student and protege. From 1972 to 1982 Erlander published his memoir
s in six volumes. He died on 21 June 1985 in Stockholm
, and after a ceremony was returned to Ransäter, Värmland in a triumphant procession for the final rest.
He was the father of the mathematician Sven Erlander
, who since 2001 has published his father's diaries.
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....
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He was the leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Party
Swedish Social Democratic Party
The Swedish Social Democratic Workers' Party, , contesting elections as 'the Workers' Party – the Social Democrats' , or sometimes referred to just as 'the Social Democrats' and most commonly as Sossarna ; is the oldest and largest political party in Sweden. The party was founded in 1889...
and Prime Minister of Sweden
Prime Minister of Sweden
The Prime Minister is the head of government in the Kingdom of Sweden. Before the creation of the office of a Prime Minister in 1876, Sweden did not have a head of government separate from its head of state, namely the King, in whom the executive authority was vested...
from 1946 to 1969. His uninterrupted tenure of 23 years as head of government is a record for parliamentary democracies, with the popular expression "Sweden's longest Prime Minister" referring to both his physical stature and tenure.
Ascending to the World War II coalition government
Third cabinet of Per Albin Hansson
The third cabinet of Per Albin Hansson was the cabinet of Sweden between 13 December 1939 and 31 July 1945. It consisted of members from the Social Democratic Party, the Farmers' League, the People's Party and the National Organization of the Right....
in 1944, Erlander rose unexpectedly to leadership upon the death of Prime Minister Per Albin Hansson
Per Albin Hansson
Per Albin Hansson , was a Swedish politician, chairman of the Social Democrats from 1925 and two-time Prime Minister in four governments between 1932 and 1946, governing all that period save for a short-lived crisis in the summer of 1936, which he ended by forming a coalition government with his...
in October 1946, cementing the position of the Social Democratic Party as the virtual government of Sweden. Known for his moderation, pragmatism and self-irony, Erlander constantly sought approval from the liberal-conservative opposition for his policies, de facto dropping all pretences of instating republic or wide-scale nationalizations whilst introducing reforms such as universal health insurance, pension additions
Arbejdsmarkedets Tillægspension
Arbejdsmarkedets Tillægspension is a supplementary pension in Denmark, and is Denmark's largest lifelong pension plan. Citizens of Denmark become eligible for ATP payments as soon as they turn 65 years old. Arbejdsmarkedets Tillægspension was amended into law on March 7, 1964.-See...
and a growing public sector while stopping short of raising tax levels above the average OECD levels at the time. In 1951-1957, he espoused a coalition government
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
with Peasants' League
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...
chairman Gunnar Hedlund
Gunnar Hedlund
Gunnar Hedlund was a Swedish politician. He was chairman of the Centre Party 1949-1971, Home Secretary 1951-1957 and member of the Riksdag 1942-1976....
in order to secure majority and stability, led by himself.
In foreign policy, he initially sought an alliance of Nordic countries, but without success, instead maintaining strict neutrality while building up among the most impressive armed forces in the world (surpassed only by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in terms of per-capita spending), making the Swedish Air Force
Swedish Air Force
The Swedish Air Force is the air force branch of the Swedish Armed Forces.-History:The Swedish Air Force was created on July 1, 1926 when the aircraft units of the Army and Navy were merged. Because of the escalating international tension during the 1930s the Air Force was reorganized and expanded...
the third largest in the world, while ultimately rejecting nuclear capability, signing the nuclear non-proliferation treaty
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as the Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT, is a landmark international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to...
in 1968. Erlander's mandate coincided with the post-World War II economic expansion
Post-World War II economic expansion
The post–World War II economic expansion, also known as the postwar economic boom, the long boom, and the Golden Age of Capitalism, was a period of economic prosperity in the mid 20th century, which occurred mainly in western countries, followed the end of World War II in 1945, and lasted until the...
, in Sweden known as the record years
Record years
The record years, rekordåren, describes the economy of Sweden during the global post–World War II economic expansion, until the 1973 oil crisis, largely coinciding with the mandate of Prime Minister Tage Erlander...
.
Resigning after his seventh and most successful general election
Swedish general election, 1968
Elections to the second chamber of the Riksdag held 15 September 1968. Held in the wake of the crushing of the Prague spring, it resulted in a landslide victory for the Social Democratic government and Prime Minister Tage Erlander. Erlander would resign the following year after an uninterrupted...
(in which his Social Democrats surpassed all four opposition parties in terms of seats) in the midst of constitutional reforms, Erlander was succeeded by his long-time novice and friend, Olof Palme
Olof Palme
Sven Olof Joachim Palme was a Swedish politician. A long-time protegé of Prime Minister Tage Erlander, Palme led the Swedish Social Democratic Party from 1969 to his assassination, and was a two-term Prime Minister of Sweden, heading a Privy Council Government from 1969 to 1976 and a cabinet...
. Dying on June 21, 1985 at age 84, Erlander's funeral procession crossed the country from Stockholm to his home town of Ransäter in triumph for his final interment.
Biography
He was born in RansäterRansäter
Ransäter is a minor locality in Munkfors Municipality, Sweden. It is the birthplace of Erik Gustaf Geijer and Tage Erlander....
, Värmland County
Värmland County
Värmland County is a county or län in west central Sweden. It borders the Swedish counties of Dalarna, Örebro and Västra Götaland, as well as the Norwegian counties of Østfold, Akershus and Hedmark to the west.- Province :...
as son of the school teacher Erik Gustaf Erlander (1859–1936). His mother was Alma Nilsson (1869–1961). As a student at Lund University
Lund University
Lund University , located in the city of Lund in the province of Scania, Sweden, is one of northern Europe's most prestigious universities and one of Scandinavia's largest institutions for education and research, frequently ranked among the world's top 100 universities...
he was heavily involved in student politics and met many radical students. He graduated in political science and economics in 1928. Erlander was a member of the editorial staff of the encyclopedia Svensk Upplagsbok from 1929 to 1938. In 1930 he married Aina Andersson, who became Aina Erlander
Aina Erlander
Aina Erlander , born September 28, 1902 in Lund, Sweden, dead 24 February 1990 in Stockholm, Sweden, married to Swedish prime minister Tage Erlander from 1930 until his death in 1985....
.
Tage Erlander was elected to the municipal council
Municipal council
A municipal council is the local government of a municipality. Specifically the term can refer to the institutions of various countries that can be translated by this term...
in Lund
Lund Municipality
Lund Municipality is a municipality in Skåne County, southern Sweden. Its seat is located in the city of Lund.As most municipalities in Sweden, the territory of Lund Municipality consists of a lot of former local government units, united in a series of amalgamations. The number of original...
in 1930, became a member of parliament in 1932, and was appointed a State Secretary
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
at the Ministry of Social Affairs in 1938. As State Secretary at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Erlander was one of the most senior officials responsible for the establishment of internment camps in Sweden
Internment camps in Sweden during World War II
A number of internment camps were operated by Sweden during World War II. These camps were used for interment of, among others, suspected criminals, German refugees and Swedish communists. In recent years, some debaters have termed these camps "concentration camps" . This label has been highly...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In the camps, which were kept secret to the Swedish public, people from various ethnic minorities as well as political dissidents were interned, particularly Communists and Soviet Union sympathisers.
In 1942, State Secretary Erlander together with then Minister for Social Affairs Gustav Möller
Gustav Möller
Gustav Möller was a prominent Swedish Social democratic politician, credited as the father of the social security system and the Welfare state, called Folkhemmet...
initiated a nation-wide registration of the Swedish Travellers, a branch of the Romani people that has been resident in Sweden for half a millennium. The purpose of the registration was, according to a newspaper article, to make the base for "radical measures" against this "bottom layer of the Swedish population". In Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, similar lists were established that were handed over to the Nazis during the German occupation of Norway
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
.
Erlander ascended to the cabinet in 1944 as Minister without Portfolio
Minister without Portfolio
A minister without portfolio is either a government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister that does not head a particular ministry...
, a post he held to the next year, when he became Minister for Education. When Prime Minister Per Albin Hansson
Per Albin Hansson
Per Albin Hansson , was a Swedish politician, chairman of the Social Democrats from 1925 and two-time Prime Minister in four governments between 1932 and 1946, governing all that period save for a short-lived crisis in the summer of 1936, which he ended by forming a coalition government with his...
suddenly died in 1946, Erlander was unexpectedly chosen as the successor and subsequently also as the leader of the party.
Retaining the positions of the Social Democrats from a potent Liberal opposition under Bertil Ohlin
Bertil Ohlin
Bertil 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...
in his first election
Swedish general election, 1948
Elections to the second chamber of the Riksdag held 19 September 1948. Freshman Prime Minister and Social Democratic leader Tage Erlander managed to debauch the Liberal-led opposition under Bertil Ohlin, despite a furious campaign fuelled by the majority of the Swedish press, and could withhold his...
, he later formed a coalition with 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...
, at the time the Peasants' League between 1951 and 1957. His working relationship with the party's leader, Gunnar Hedlund
Gunnar Hedlund
Gunnar Hedlund was a Swedish politician. He was chairman of the Centre Party 1949-1971, Home Secretary 1951-1957 and member of the Riksdag 1942-1976....
(Minister for Home Affairs in the coalition government), is known to have been good.
Erlander coined the phrase "the strong society", describing a society with a growing public sector taking care of the growing demand on many services that an affluent society creates. The public sector, particularly its welfare state institutions grew considerably during his tenure as Prime Minister, while nationalizations were rare. In order to maintain employment for his vast electorate and Swedish sovereignty as a non-NATO member, the armed forces was greatly expanded, reaching an impressive level by the 1960s, while nuclear capability was ultimately dropped after outcries not least from the Social Democratic Women's League. The question of nuclear weapons as a means to deter a possible attack remained a divisive factor in Swedish society and among Social Democrats, and prompted diplomatic agreements with the United States ex officio guaranteeing intervention in that case of an invasion. Sweden signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as the Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT, is a landmark international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to...
in 1968, dropping all pretences of developing a nuclear weapon.
Resigning at age 68 in 1969, with an absolute majority for the Social Democrats in the second chamber since 1968, Erlander was succeeded by 42-year old Olof Palme
Olof Palme
Sven Olof Joachim Palme was a Swedish politician. A long-time protegé of Prime Minister Tage Erlander, Palme led the Swedish Social Democratic Party from 1969 to his assassination, and was a two-term Prime Minister of Sweden, heading a Privy Council Government from 1969 to 1976 and a cabinet...
, who - although more radical - had in many ways been Erlander's student and protege. From 1972 to 1982 Erlander published his memoir
Memoir
A memoir , is a literary genre, forming a subclass of autobiography – although the terms 'memoir' and 'autobiography' are almost interchangeable. Memoir is autobiographical writing, but not all autobiographical writing follows the criteria for memoir set out below...
s in six volumes. He died on 21 June 1985 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...
, and after a ceremony was returned to Ransäter, Värmland in a triumphant procession for the final rest.
He was the father of the mathematician Sven Erlander
Sven Erlander
Sven Erlander Sven Erlander Sven Erlander (b. 1934 is a Professor Emeritus of Mathematics (Optimization) at Linköping University in Sweden.He received his Ph.D. in Mathematics from Stockholm University in 1968. In 1971 he became a Professor in Mathematics (Optimization) at Linköping University...
, who since 2001 has published his father's diaries.