Swedish Culture: Government Initiative Sparks Debate

By Imogen West-Knights, Reporting from Stockholm
May 26, 2025

What defines Swedish culture? The question elicits various responses, from the music of ABBA to the films of Ingmar Bergman, as well as iconic figures like Pippi Longstocking and the ubiquitous influence of IKEA. Recognizing the complexity of this question, the Swedish government has launched an initiative aimed at elucidating the essence of Swedish culture known as the Culture Canon.

The Culture Canon Initiative

In 2023, the initiative was established with a dual approach that includes both an "experts" canon crafted by cultural authorities and a "people’s" canon shaped by public input. The expert canon will consist of a selection of 100 culturally significant works or items chosen by academics, journalists, historians, and other experts in Swedish heritage.

Conversely, the people’s canon invites public suggestions through an online platform. This encourages contributions not only from the arts but also from everyday life, encompassing traditions like the coffee and cake break known as "fika" and the principle of "Allemansrätten", which is Sweden's right to roam freely in nature, even on privately owned land. Suggestions so far have included saunas, the plays of August Strindberg, the historical Battle of Visby from 1361, and the legendary tennis victories of Björn Borg at Wimbledon.

A government committee is expected to compile and present a report on both canons later this summer.

Controversy and Concerns

Despite the initiative’s aim to celebrate Swedish culture, the proposal for a definitive list has incited significant debate. Critics argue that the Culture Canon is heavily associated with a particular political faction, specifically a party with far-right roots that supports, but is not part of the current government. Concerns have been raised that the canon could promote a narrow interpretation of culture, glorifying a constructed version of Swedish heritage while potentially marginalizing diverse cultural contributions from minority groups.

Lars Trägårdh, a historian appointed to lead the project, responded to the criticism by emphasizing the potential benefits of the initiative. He suggested that the Culture Canon could be instrumental in aiding immigrants to integrate into Swedish society. “Sweden combines a wonderful openness to immigration with a complete lack of policies that have been able to bring all these people into Swedish society,” Trägårdh stated. He believes that a cultural canon would offer newcomers "a map and a compass" to help them navigate their new environment.

Conclusion

The Culture Canon initiative represents a significant effort by the Swedish government to not only define culture but also to facilitate greater societal cohesion. As the project evolves, it remains to be seen how the final canons will balance the diverse facets of Swedish identity and culture in a modern, multicultural context.