Page 29 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Stockholm

THE HIST OR Y OF ST OCKHOLM  27

The War Years Prime minister Olof Palme (1927–
86), probably the best-known
Sweden declared its neutrality during both World War I and II.
Its policy of continuing to trade with nations involved in the Swedish politician abroad, was
conflict during World War I provoked deeply involved in questions of
a number of countries into imposing democracy and disarma ment, as
a trade blockade on Sweden. The
situation became so serious that well as the problems of the Third
hunger riots broke out in some towns. World. He was renowned for
World War II produced an even
more difficult balancing exercise for condemning undemocratic acts
Swedish neutrality, largely because by dic tators. Palme’s assassination
its Nordic neighbours were at war. on the streets of Stockholm in
With a combination of luck and
skill, Sweden remained outside the 1986 sent a shock wave across
Neutrality stamp issued conflict, but the concessions it had the world, but strangely the
in 1942 to make were strongly criticized murder has still not been solved.
both nationally and internationally.
Important changes took
place during the closing decades
The Post-War Era of the 20th century. These included a new
Although the Social Democrats dom inated constitution in 1974, which removed the
government from the 1930s to the 1970s monarch’s politi cal
the socialist and non-social ist power blocs powers. In 1995
in Swedish politics have remained fairly Sweden joined the
evenly matched since World War II. European Union,
The policy of non-alignment has not after a referendum
proved an obstacle to Swedish involve ment approved entry by
on the international scene, including the only the narrowest
United Nations. The country has offered of majorities.
asylum to hundreds of thousands of The start of the
refugees from wars and political oppres sion. new millennium Sveavägen, the site of
marked a change in Palme’s murder, 1986
the role of the church
in Sweden, which severed its connections
with the state after more than 400 years.
The last decade has seen a significant
number of jobs created in high technology
companies, and the almost total absence
of heavy industry has made Stockholm
one of the world’s cleanest cities. In recent
years, the city has been the home of
revolutionary startups including Skype,
The centre of Vällingby, which attracted attention among city
planners worldwide in the 1950s Spotify and Mojang.
1974 The 1980 New constitu- 2000 Öresund bridge 2010 Crown Princess Victoria
monarch tion gives women opens between marries Daniel Westling
loses all the right of succes- Denmark and Sweden 2012 Princess Estelle born
political sion to the throne Crown Princess Victoria to Crown Princess Victoria
powers and Prince Daniel
1980 2000 2020
1986 Prime minister Olof 1995 Sweden joins 2007 Legendary film maker
Palme murdered in Stockholm European Union Ingmar Bergman dies
1974 ABBA pop group wins 2000 Swedish Church 2003 Foreign minister Anna
Eurovision Song Contest
separated from the State Lindh murdered in Stockholm

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