Re: Anti-EU demonstration in Sweden

["Hugh Whinfrey" <econ@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Harry Veeder writes

>If so, these events probably signal the beginning of
>Sweden's "repatriation".

There's 2 things going on here.

1) Isolationism has worked for Sweden in the
past. No WWI, no WWII, no NATO, etc.  There
is a strong temptation to want to avoid alliances
that are 'partisan' in one fashion or another.
This is a very strong undercurrent, and it
resembles to some extent the isolationist
sentiments in the US. The EU is a natural
target to vent these feelings on since it
embodies that lost 'independence'.

2) Being anti-EU is a very 'hip' thing these
days for young people to engage in,
particularly in a nation that has lost
some of its bearings (i.e. ever since
Palme was murdered).

For what it's worth, I wouldn't pay much
attention to it. It isn't anything particularly
unusual in this neck of the woods as far
as I see it. It's just a little better organised
than before - i.e. the overall energy level isn't
anything new, it's just being harnessed better.


Whatever institutionalised 'injustices' there
might be in the EU are dwarfed by those
elsewhere around the world, including those
in the US. I take these folks to be just a bunch
of kids in need letting off some steam. Goes on
here all the time, but you don't always hear about
it in the press.

The odds of Sweden leaving the EU are
smaller than those of Texas leaving the US.
It's the only game in town, and Sweden can't
really shut it out.

Hugh (nextdoor in Denmark)