Do constitutions matter? Are constitutions simply symbols of the political times at which they were adopted, or do they systematically affect the course of public policy? Are the policy crises of failing democracies the result of bad luck or of fundamental problems associated with the major and minor constitutional reforms adopted during their recent histories? The purpose of the present study is to address these questions using a blend of theory, history, and statistical analysis. The Swedish experience provides a nearly perfect laboratory in which to study the effects of constitutional reform. During the past 200 years, Swedish governance has shifted from a king-dominated system with an unelected four-chamber parliament to a bicameral legislature elected with wealth-weighted voting in 1866, and then to a new electoral system based on proportional representation and universal suffrage in 1920, and finally to a unicameral parliamentary system in 1970. All these radical reorganizations of Swedish governance were accomplished peacefully using formal amendment procedures established by previous constitutions. By focusing on constitutional issues rather than Sweden's political history, this book extends our understanding of constitutional reform and parliamentary democracy in general.

Papers originally presented at a conference sponsored by the Center for Business and Policy Studies--Acknowlegments.

This book offers a foreign reader an overview and understanding of the most important aspects of the law and legal system in Sweden, from the legal institutions to more specific topics such as contract law, tort law and family law. These presentations are not exhaustive but rather meant to give the reader a sufficient enough understanding to be somewhat orientated in the Swedish legal system. The book is written for non-Swedish practitioners faced with a specific legal issue involving Swedish law. It is also addressed to foreign law students in need of an overview of the Swedish legal system in order to help them in their further studies at Swedish universities.

For centuries Sweden was a rather backward, relatively unknown country. It burst onto the world scene during the Viking Age, and then under the warrior kings Gustavus Adolphus and Charles XII in the 17th and 18th centuries, only to withdraw into isolation again. In this century, however, the country has been transformed and hailed as a model welfare state. The over 240 entries in this volume range from the Viking Age to the present day, but the emphasis is on personalities and events of the 20th century and Sweden's rapid social and economic evolution. Sweden's internal affairs are reflected in articles on economics, politicians and political parties, newspapers, parliament, trade unions, social welfare, education, religion, and the status of women. Foreign affairs are covered in such articles as Sweden and Finland, Union with Norway, Estonia, Nordic Council, the two World Wars, Neutrality, the United Nations, and the European Union. Cultural entries include Swedish theater, music, visual arts, literature and language, libraries, and cinema. Several Swedes of international fame have been included (e.g., Linneaus, Kreuger, Nobel, Palme, St. Birgitta, and Raoul Wallenberg). The dictionary is preceded by a chronology and an introduction which give the reader an overview of Swedish history. There is, finally, a substantial bibliography to assist further reading.

This timely and important volume addresses the serious challenges faced by democracy in contemporary society. With contributions from some of the world's most prestigious scholars of public choice and political science, this comprehensive collection presents a complete overview of the threats democracy must confront, by both contesting accepted ideas and offering new approaches. Using theoretical and empirical evidence, this book will be a significant addition to the current literature, providing original and enlightening perspectives on the theory of democracy.