DB #1 Sweden Response

Nicholas Cole 

Sweden discussion

COLLAPSE

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Economy

Sweden is a country in Europe that uses both capitalism and socialism as their economic system. Terrill (2009) states the successful merger of capitalism with socialism began to experience some difficulty by the 1980s. Sweden’s economy is known as a circular economy. Niskanen et al. (2020) states an industrial society was maintained with increasing attention to sustainable processes and products, based on a belief that Swedish sustainability-oriented enterprise could flourish, delivering employment and economic growth, through green exports in an increasingly environmentally aware global competitive economy. The economy relies on many different industries. Terrill (2009) states included among the significant industries are: iron and steel, chemical, pharmaceuticals, communications, electronics, paper, pulp and wood, and transportation equipment. Most of the economy relies on these industries, with a small number of farms in Sweden. Terrill (2009) states the country has become so highly industrialized that only 2 percent of the labor force is now employed in agriculture. Basically, this means that farms generally belong to small families. Sweden is by far one of the few countries that is considered self-sufficient with the number of industries and exports they rely on year in and year out. Capitalism and socialism work together in this system.

Government

            Like other countries throughout the world, Sweden has a constitution. Chapter 2 of the 1975 instrument discuses two provisions. Terrill (2009) states the rights and freedoms elaborated in this chapter are divided into two kinds: (1) absolute rights and freedoms, and (2) rights and freedoms that may be restricted by law. There are many rights that citizens are guaranteed, however rights like freedom of speech can be restricted. In the government, the Riksdag act explains how the parliament works. The people of Sweden consider this act to be a protector of their rights. Terrill (2009) states all the trades and professions are well represented and no individual group dominates the parliament. The sharing of power ensures that no individual group can infringe upon the rights of other groups. There are many political parties that exist in Sweden that compete for control through the elections. The Cabinet is an important part of government, because once an election is decided, the Prime Minister selects the heads of ministries to represent it. The Prime Minister of Sweden serves like the Prime Minister of England. Terrill (2009) states the prime minister is the leader of the government and, therefore, is responsible both initiating and defending policy in the Riksdag. The prime minister has access to all information.

Law Enforcement

            The police in Sweden were highly decentralized until the nineteenth century. There were many police districts that existed, causing issues of jurisdiction. Terrill (2009) states in 1965, 554 districts were reduced to 118. Today, there are only 21 police districts. The government has reorganized the police force to become more centralized and professional. The police fall under the Ministry of Justice, who is a cabinet member. The Ministry oversees the National Police Board, and other national police units. National policing is a trend in Sweden, but the rural areas are often overlooked. The denser the population, the more resources they have available to them. Stassen and Ceccato (2019) state in contrast, rural police cover much larger area with limited resources, and cannot patrol their entire jurisdictions. This problem is not isolated to Sweden, as there are other countries with large rural areas that have limited police personnel available. When the police are on patrol, they have a list of responsibilities. Some of these responsibilities include prevention of crime, investigating crimes, and protecting members of the public. These are the basic functions of the police in Sweden.

Judicial Process

            The National Courts Administration governs the general courts in Sweden. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land, followed by the Court of Appeal, and District Courts. District courts are where most of all litigation is handled in Sweden. The court of appeal handles all appeals in both civil and criminal cases. If the court of appeal cannot settle a case, it will be considered by the Supreme Court. The issue within the Supreme Court in Sweden is that there is no regard for following precedents by the judges. The assumption is that Sweden would refer to stare decisis, or let the decision stand, but this is not the case. Terrill (2009) states judges in Sweden apply the law as they interpret it; they are not obliged to follow precedent. This is an issue when it reverses established precedents in previous cases. The constitution highlights the functions of government and what is considered a fundamental pillar. Zamboni (2019) states it also raises some questions regarding what it does not say: the judicial body is not considered one of the fundamental pillars of the constitutional architecture in Sweden. The Supreme Court can be ruled by a judge’s political agenda instead of by judicial review or precedents.

Corrections

            Corrections and alternatives to incarceration in Sweden are examples for other countries in the world. The philosophy of treatment because a major turning point in corrections. Terrill (2009) states the introduction of alternative sanctions was a central feature of this treatment philosophy. Ideas such as probation, conditional sentences, community supervision, and indeterminate sentences for violent offenders were implemented. Instead of harsh punishment for all crimes, Sweden looked at ways to treat people so that they would not become recidivists. Sweden has attempted to reduce incarceration through many processes but has realized that some offenders still need to be incarcerated. Terrill (2009) states this argument is based on a belief that imprisonment is counterproductive for many offenders and that society does not actually benefit from its imposition. However, there must still be crime prevention strategies implemented to deter serious crimes from occurring. A combination of treatment and incapacitation helps Sweden to become a successful country in the aspect of correctional treatment. One issue with corrections and criminal justice is the issue of recidivism. Vasiljevic et al. (2017) state in Sweden, and in other Nordic countries, the highest rates of criminal recidivism are found in prisoners who are conditionally released on probation with supervision. The way that Sweden can combat this is by conducting more treatment in prisons.

Human Rights and Christian World View

            Sweden was one of the first countries in the 1960’s to combat discrimination, so that the rights guaranteed in their constitution were applied to all persons regardless of race, religion, or ethnicity. McEachrane (2018) states the general contention in Parliament during the 1960s, when racial discrimination first became a topic for debate, was that most Swedes rejected racial discrimination, that there was no need for laws prohibiting racial discrimination, and that the most effective measure against it was education. This falls into the Christian World View because it allows rights for those who cannot speak for themselves. “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute” (New International Version Bible, 2011/1973, Proverbs 31:8). In Sweden, all people are guaranteed rights. “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow” (Isaiah 1:17).

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