Article written by Anders Linde-Laursen

1 recommendations

Denmark and Sweden have always had a special relationship. For many years, we were engaged in open warfare for power, territory and control of Øresund, the Sound between Denmark and Sweden. When the wars ended, our arch enemy" became the epitome of everything that wasn't Danish. Denmark's national identity is in many ways determined by our history with Sweden.

Ever since the end of the 19th century, everything Swedish has been the antithesis of Danish", and defined who "we Danes" are. Throughout the 20th century, aspects that came to define Denmark – the cooperative agricultural movement, Grundtvig, democracy and individualism – were set in relief with examples from Sweden.

Prior to 1930, Sweden was a backwards, outmoded society. But once Swedish industry began to take off, the country made enormous progress and began developing a welfare state. After 1930, comparisons between Denmark and Sweden were used to illustrate how Danes risked losing their individual rights if the country became too modern.

"Us and them"

Starting in the mid 1980s, and especially after Sweden joined the EU in 1995, Denmark and Sweden have developed along much the same path. For a number of years Sweden appeared to be losing its importance for our self-conception. However, discussions about refugees and…

• Show entire article