ABSTRACT
Sweden is often considered a forerunner regarding welfare and democracy. For example, according to the 2002 UN Human Development Index, Sweden is among the five most developed countries in the world, together with Norway, Iceland, Austria and The Netherlands (UNDP 2002). Regarding measures of democracy – such as participation in elections – Sweden also is at the top of the list. According to empirical studies on social capital, trust in welfare institutions and general trust in other people, Sweden again emerges in a leading position among all the established democracies (Putnam 2002; Rothstein 2002).
