Sweden Stands Alone

Duration: 1 hour 1 min

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Description:	In the Spring of 2020, at the start of the Coronavirus Crisis sweeping Europe (and much of the rest of the world), one country stood alone. This was not Boris Johnson's Britain, which soon followed the rest of the continent into lockdown, but Sweden. She was the only country to adopt what many (though not the Stockholm government) called a 'herd immunity' strategy of allowing the virus to spread and thereby, it was hoped, achieving immunity for society. As tensions rise within Sweden over the controversial policy, our panel take stock. What scientific advice was being used? How successful has the strategy been? Is there anything in Swedish history and society which can explain this extraordinary Sonderweg?

Description:

In the Spring of 2020, at the start of the Coronavirus Crisis sweeping Europe (and much of the rest of the world), one country stood alone. This was not Boris Johnson's Britain, which soon followed the rest of the continent into lockdown, but Sweden. She was the only country to adopt what many (though not the Stockholm government) called a 'herd immunity' strategy of allowing the virus to spread and thereby, it was hoped, achieving immunity for society. As tensions rise within Sweden over the controversial policy, our panel take stock. What scientific advice was being used? How successful has the strategy been? Is there anything in Swedish history and society which can explain this extraordinary Sonderweg?


Created:	2020-06-12 00:14
Collection:	Centre for Geopolitics
Publisher:	Centre for Geopolitics
Copyright:	Centre for Geopolitics
Language:	eng (English)
Keywords:	Sweden; COVID-19; geopolitics;


Abstract:	The panel: Nicholas Aylott is associate professor of political science at Södertörn University, Stockholm. His main area of teaching and research is in comparative European politics, with a focus on political parties, and has published various books, anthologies and articles in that field. He previously worked at Keele University in England and Umeå University in Sweden. Elisabeth Braw is Senior Research Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies. She directs the Modern Deterrence project there, which focuses on how governments, business and civil society can work together to strengthen countries' defence against existing and emerging threats. A native of Sweden, Elisabeth Braw is a member of the Aurora Forum’s steering committee. Lena Einhorn is one of Sweden’s foremost public intellectuals. She holds a PhD in Virology and Tumor Biology from Karolina Institute Stockholm. Lena Einhorn is an acclaimed maker of documentaries, especially on historical and scientific subjects, for which she has won many awards. Moderator: Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues.

Abstract:

The panel:

Nicholas Aylott is associate professor of political science at Södertörn University, Stockholm. His main area of teaching and research is in comparative European politics, with a focus on political parties, and has published various books, anthologies and articles in that field. He previously worked at Keele University in England and Umeå University in Sweden.

Elisabeth Braw is Senior Research Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies. She directs the Modern Deterrence project there, which focuses on how governments, business and civil society can work together to strengthen countries' defence against existing and emerging threats. A native of Sweden, Elisabeth Braw is a member of the Aurora Forum’s steering committee.

Lena Einhorn is one of Sweden’s foremost public intellectuals. She holds a PhD in Virology and Tumor Biology from Karolina Institute Stockholm. Lena Einhorn is an acclaimed maker of documentaries, especially on historical and scientific subjects, for which she has won many awards.

Moderator: Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues.

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