Sweden

It is very interesting to read about the La Bola de Cristal TV-programme on post-Franco dictatorship Spanish TV. As a representative of La Movida, it seemed to tackle difficult topics with a particular punk rock style.

Of course, it was the aftermath of dictatorship that opened the door to pent up creativity. But there was a similar spirit of the times in Sweden in the 80's too. Perhaps less distinct, and certainly without the striking moniker, there was a large shift in Swedish culture. Government controlled TV and radio were gradually opened up for competition

One of most controversial programmes were Robert Aschberg's "Diskutabelt" that opened for a frank and sometimes bellicose interview style, previously unseen. The flourishing of TV and radio also gave energy and space to people working in the music industry with a wave of Swedish bands starting to spread their music all over the world. The deregulation of the telecom industry opened up for establishing a Swedish IT industry. The art scene opened up for postmodernism introducing artists like som Dan Wolgers, Annika von Hausswollf and Ernst Billgren.

The parallells between La Movida and the spirit of the late 80's in Sweden may be said to be experimentation but also new space won from a stifling cultural climate. Seen in retrospect it may not have been a huge shift, but there certainly are some parts that are not possible to replicate on commercial TV today.

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The glamour is still present at the Nobel Prize celebrations in Stockholm, in fact it may have overtaken the science and culture.

Unfortunately, prize winner Nambu could not attend to receive his prize in person from the king of Sweden. Now, the prize is paid in Swedish krona which means that with the failing currency the prize money has become much lower as they change it back into dollars, euro and yen. Ten million krona are not what they used to be...

Otherwise, most commentators note that the party in the Stockholm city hall was well done with "love" as the theme for the celebrations. Swedish television showed archive pictures of the dresses of queen Silvia the last years.

The importance of the Nobel prize for literature has increased as the focal point for the celebrations. Winning authors may not have been exceptional, but with diminshing depth of the reporting about the science prizes (as they are unfortunately considered too complicated) literature has become more important in giving the yearly celebrations a meaning.

Swedish radio Johan Bergendorff reported, together with Linda AP Larsson and Sören Granath on some perceived irregularities about the Nobel prizes.

First the sponsorship of Honeywell, and their involvement in the production of components to atom bombs. Prize donator Alfred Nobel made much of his fortune on selling dynamite and cannons, and seems strange that one of Honeywell's business activities should taint the entire prize.

Second there were reports that the three Nobel prize committees for the science prizes had received free flying tickets, hotels and dinners by the Japanese and Chinese governments in order for the committees to explain on site how they award a prize.

There was also criticism for the sponsor AstraZeneca having a board member involved in the medical committee deciding the winners. AstraZeneca stands to gain much money on the prized vaccines- but rightly so, as this research has been important. There is a difficult line of competences being drawn in many prizes, and the winning prizes can also be involved in applications ready for the markets.

Bitter evening for the Italian physicist Nicola Cabibbo that was not allowed to share the prize, with Kobayashi and Maskawa. The CKM-matrix is an acronym for Cabibbo, Kobayashi and Maskawa. A telling remark on how much more difficult it is to isolate a single genius inventing something new in today's science.

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Tomorrow November 20th the Swedish parliament will most probably decide for the Lisbon Treaty. The major parties in the centre-right government are for, together with the Social Democratic opposition. Only the left party and the green party (the greens demand a refendum) will say no.

Cecilia Malmström, minister of EU affairs, is right in pointing out that the EU-negative side of saying "no" the European Union (even with supporting an exit from the EU) and not acknowleding that the previous Nice-accord needed an amendment.

Claes Arvidsson at daily newspaper Svenska Dagbladet points to the fact that the Lisbon Treaty replacing the constitution defeated in Ireland, is not the short, easily understandable and clearly defined treaty between member states and the union it should have been.

Unfortunately, the Swedish debate about is still moving around the two key issue of when Sweden entered: "yes" or "no" to the EU. This does not only have the problematic effect in implementing new EU decisions, but it also hampers the political discussion of what the supporters of the European idea should be doing. If you always have to close ranks, in order to defend the EU in a very general manner, you have troubles defining what a liberal, conservative or social democratic answer to European policy issues is. When visions are forced to take a back seat, voters are not give clear alternatives.

Centre-right blogger and political commentator Dick Erixon points the importance of accountability in the European political process

"No to the EU" is not a viable political alternative any long, there are too many important political issues that need be solved in Europe, and even if some parts of the European process may be problematic they are best solved through good political work inside the Union.

But neither is "yes to the EU" a viable political option. Supporting the European Union means contributing constructive criticism and alternative views.

As the Lisbon Treaty will be supported by the Swedish riksdag tomorrow it well due time to discard both "yes" and "no".

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Adriano Farano writes about the ultimate European drink: coffee. If there is ever something that illustrates the European Union's motto Unity in Diversity. With the great importance given to food today, it is no surprise it characterizes culture.

Read about Adriano Farano's article If Europe was a drink, it would be coffee, with some assistance from Waldemar Ingdahl in Stockholm about Sweden's relationship to coffee.

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It was a strange experience entering the offices of Prime PR at 06.00 o'clock in the morning, with a heavy fog rolling in from the Baltic Sea. I rose from bed at a godforsaken hour to listen to who gets elected president of the United States. Would I do this for a Swedish election?

Nice breakfast, lovely people... but I am half a world away seeing Barack Obama being elected President of the United States of America.

The interest for European politics is low in Sweden. Would people be able to point out their MEP's or even President Barroso?

In a way it is understandable, American politics are much closer. It still is a superpower even if the financial crisis has ruffeled its feathers. Few nations in the world have had such an impact on politics, the economy, culture and all at once.

Sure. What happens in Brussels,Paris, London Strasbourg, Rom and Budapest does influence our lives more than we think but we often know more about the US than the EU.

The Swedish economist and journalist Johan Hakelius once wrote that Swedes often pose very American questions to their own society, which makes us expect American sounding answers. Mr. Hakelius certainly a has a good point, but hearing McCain's and Obama's final speeches leaves Swedish politicians lacking in the rhetorics departement.

Maybe its the passion for politics, and the work of the volunteers that fascinates us?

I think this can be built for European politics too, but the necessary media and source development has not been made in order evaluate Europe in the same way as the US. maybe that is part of my passion for cafebabel.com?

Congratulations Mr. President, and thank you for the demonstration in democracy. Now it is the turn of us Europeans.

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