Introduction: The Swedish Model Prof. Steven Saxonberg About Me • Born in Chicago • BA in political science and economics • Studied in Sweden 1 ݣears • Wrote BA in Econ on Swedish cooperatives • Wrote BA in PS on Swedish foreign policy during WWII • Later studied in former West Berlin (economics and business) • PhD at department of political science in Uppsala on the fall of communism in CE • Have lived in Sweden ”permanantly” since 1989 Main Research • Collapse of Communism and transition to democracy • Social policy and welfare attitudes • Family policy and gender attitudes • Social movements • Music/culture and national identity When we think of Sweden.... Small Country, Great Importance • Music: ABBA, Ace of Base, Europe, Roxette (but actuallly there are also some good groups, but they are less known) • Industry: Krupp, Swedish match, Volvo, Saab, Erixsson, Ikea, Vattenfall, Asea, Farmacia • Sports: tennis, hockey, ping-pong, skiing • But most famous for its model of social policy, social democratic dominance and neutral foreign policy • Is one of the most studied countries in the world considering its size (only Israel is comparable) Focus of this course • Explaining how the social democrats were able to gain hegemony and support for its model of social policy • Explaining what its social policies actually are and how they influence society Division into groups for the seminars • We will divide students into 4 seminar groups. • List on the course home page under “Organizační pokyny.” Seminars • At each seminar you will hand in four questions that you want us to discuss. • We will divide you into 4 groups so that you will be able to discuss more openly and freely in small groups • This is the Swedish model! • If you miss a seminar, you must write a three-page reflection, where you CRITICIZE and NOT summarize the texts. • You only need to read one article or chapter for the seminar, but if you miss the seminar, you must cover ALL the course literature for that seminar. If you miss a seminar • Participation in the seminars is obligatory. • Anyone missing a seminar, must send in to their seminar leader a three-page written reflection on the reading that was required for that seminar. • Write at least one page about each text. • For each reflection, write you OWN thoughts NOT a summary!!!! Final Paper • Short paper at the end of the course • Reflect on one aspect of the Swedish model and discuss what are the advantages and disadvantages of the model • Compare Swedish with one other country and discuss what that country could learn from the Swedish experience • The paper should be about 4 pages (around 2000 words). • Can write in groups of 2-3. • Use an internationally acceptable form of notes and references. The reference list MUST be in alphabetical order or the paper will immediately fail! • Can choose which system to use Remember in writing your papers: • Scientific, peer-reviewed articles and books are best • Official statistics from the governments or international organizations • Reports from respectable newspapers and magazines (LN – not blesk, etc.) • Not unreliable internet sources, such as wikipedia!!!! • The use of unreliable sources such as wikipedia will lower your grade. • Remember to have a reference for every fact or thought that you get from somebody else! Reading • Many of the best sources are only available in Swedish, so my lectures will not follow the literature so exactly. Also I will give information that is more up-dated than in most books. If you fail your paper • I learned from the past course that students are capable of writing good papers if they want • But often are lazy and fail several times first • Do not believe we can actually fail them • If fail, get one more chance to send in a new paper by June 15. • You grade will be lowered by one level if you fail the first time. • Remember: less work means more work, because you can really fail!