ABSTRACT
In 1803, Swedish King Gustav IV Adolf regulated fraternal orders, marking the first governmental control over these civil society actors. This chapter explores the legislation’s origins and its role in transnational developments after the French Revolution. It delves into the nature of these early associations, their members, interests, values, and relationship with political power. The chapter also discusses the term “fraternal order” and the concept of “welfare” in relation to “civil society”, and situates Swedish regulation within a transnational context, noting similar regulations in Prussia (1798) and Britain (1799). It presents three fraternal orders in detail, exploring their response to the decree and their activities. The chapter concludes by arguing that the legacy of associational life contributed to laying the foundations for Nordic-style inclusive societies.
