The changing role of the Nordic countries Much of this is fully compatible with what defines the Nordic countries historically and the post-1945 image of them abroad, not the least in the Global South. That's what also made them ideal for UN missions. The image of the Nordic countries would have made them ideal as civilian mediators and negotiation facilitators all through the 1990s in, say, various parts of former Yugoslavia, Kosovo in particular. In short, the EU profile is about one voice, one policy and one shared responsibility behind the policies of the stronger few. That prevents democratic debate and open self-criticism.
Peace generally comes closer to the former than to the latter.
The Sweden that acquiesce During the last 10-15 years Sweden has been less and less willing to promote its own analyses and views and has, incrementally, adapted to EU and NATO policies in numerous fields. Thus, for instance, Sweden could not muster a single critical remark about NATO's operation over Yugoslavia last year. And although it has been the driving force in establishing the civilian crisis management unit in the EU, that is clearly a stepchild in the structure, as we have shown in PressInfo 108. The public debate in Sweden about such fundamentals is scant and it is no wonder that the world around has not grasped the extent to which Sweden has changed since, say, the days of Olof Palme. Now, in contrast, Sweden has lost its creative grasp on global concerns and its solidarity with the disadvantaged and finds security in following the herd.