|
CONTEMPORARY RESEARCH ON SWEDEN´S RELATIONSHIP TO COMMUNISM AND NAZISM
28 October 2006 - Swedish Research Council
| The Swedish Research Council presented the findings to date from two research programmes: “Communist Regimes" and “Sweden´s Relationship to Nazism, Nazi Germany, and the Holocaust". The findings help clarify Sweden´s relationship to communism and Nazism from the 1930s to the present. |
In total, 29 million Swedish kronor were allocated to 15 research projects that have been under way since 2001 under the auspices of the Swedish Research Council.
One of the research projects shows that German policies to exclude Jews from social life even impacted on Swedish corporations. They were subjected to boycotts and discriminatory actions that usually met with silence from Swedish officials.
- Pressure was put on Swedish companies to eliminate the influence and employment opportunities of Jews, comments one of the lead researchers, Klas Åmark, professor of history at Stockholm University.
“The Media, the Swedish Public, and Soviet Communism" is the topic of investigation for Ester Pollack, a researcher at the Department of Journalism, Media, and Communication, Stockholm University. In the press conference she explained that her research has focused on the information and debate that appeared in the media during the 1930s:
- It is interesting to examine the role of sensationalist journalism during this period. Established newspapers in Sweden, such as Dagens Nyheter, wore “blinders" in reporting on progress and modernizing, while newspapers such as Aftonbladet painted a picture that was very close to what we know to be true today.
One part of the research findings examines public fear and describes different aspects of Nazi influence in Swedish society. This influence was clear in public agencies, the courts, the scientific community, and in cultural and church life.
The second part of the research findings presents differences in the concept of “the enemy" in Nazism and communism, where in Nazism the enemy was more clearly defined. Injustices and violations of human rights by communist regimes were also discussed.
-The Government commissioned this research program, and we have followed the traditional scientific rules of procedure. Hence, we hope to be able to contribute towards understanding Swedish views on Nazism and communism, concludes Anu-Mai Köll, programme co-ordinator and professor of history at Stockholm University.
http://www.vr.se/english/index.asp
About: Swedish Research Council
The Swedish Research Council bears national responsibility for developing the country’s basic research towards attainment of a strong international position.The Council has three main tasks: research funding, science communication and research policy. Research is the foundation for the development of knowledge in society, and the basis of high-quality education. Research is also crucial as a means of enhancing welfare through economic, social and cultural development.
One essential principle is that research should be unrestricted and unaffiliated. Active researchers are therefore in a majority on the Council’s board, as in the Scientific Councils and the Committee for Educational Science, i.e. in all bodies where applications are assessed and evaluated, and grants decided upon. This guarantees the quality and diversity of basic research. |
More News:
• For October 2006
• From Swedish Research Council
• For Contract Research Organisation
|
