Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Scandinavia is also on the high-tech edge of the global economy. They
practice a mix of free-market capitalism and enlightened socialism. In interna-
tional business, they make their mark with telecommunications (Nokia from
Finland, Ericsson from Sweden), Ikea furniture (originally from Sweden),
Electrolux appliances (Sweden), and Lego toys (Denmark).
Politically, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden are constitutional monarchies
with a figurehead monarch who cuts ribbons, works with parliament and a
prime minister, and tries to stay out of the tabloids. Finland and Estonia
have democratically elected presidents. The Scandinavian nations maintain
close ties with each other. To some degree or other, they all participate in the
European Union (though Norway is not a member, and only Finland uses the
euro). Every election brings another debate about how closely they want to tie
themselves to the rest of Europe. The Scandinavian nations have a reputation
for international cooperation, exemplified by their leading role in the United
Nations, and Sweden and Norway's Nobel Peace Prize.
All of Scandinavia's monarchs are descended from Oscar I, King of
Sweden and Norway (and son of King Karl Johan XIV), through the House
of Bernadotte: Denmark's Queen Margrethe II and Crown Prince Frederik
(b. 1968), Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Crown Princess Victoria (b.
1977), and Norway's King Harald V and Crown Prince Håkon (b. 1973).
Artistically,Scandinaviaisknownforitsseriousplaywrights(HenrikIbsen
and August Strindberg), brooding filmmakers (Ingmar Bergman), and gloomy
painters (Edvard Munch), and most recently for its crime-thriller author, Stieg
Larsson. Nordic mythology is familiar to the English-speaking world for its
Lord of the Rings
-style roots. Hans Christian Andersen and Astrid Lindgren
(creator of
Pippi Longstocking
) brought us children's tales. Less familiar are
Scandinavia's people-friendly sculptors—Bertel Thorvaldsen, Gustav Vige-
land, and Carl Milles—whose noble, realistic statues evoke the human spir-
it. Architecturally, Scandinavia continues to lead the way, with sleek modern
buildings that fit in with the natural landscape. Late-20th-century Modern-
ism (or Functionalism) had several Scandinavian champions, including Eero
Saarinen and Alvar Aalto (Finland) and Arne Jacobsen (Denmark). Music-
ally, Scandinavia is known for classical composers like Grieg (Norway) and
Sibelius (Finland) who celebrate the region's nature and folk tunes. Scand-
