Monday, June 05, 2006

 

National Day 2006

Tomorrow, the 6 June, is the national day of Sweden. This is a fairly new event created as late as in 1983. This year is the second year the day is a holiday, i.e. a day off work. The government decided to sacrifice Whit Monday as a holiday in order to accommodate the national day.

But does Sweden really have a nationality? What is national identity? According to Griggs in “The Role of Forth world Nations” (1993) the definitions of a State and a Nation is the following:
State: A military and civilian bureaucracy with the legal authority to represent a body of people within the defined borders established by territorial expansion, wars and treaties.

Nation: Those of a common culture and homeland who have evolved into a territorially-based, and self-identifying group of people with shared aspirations.
A National Identity: A consciousness of belonging to a nation. National identity is subjective and best understood by respectfully asking three questions: What is your nation? Who are your people? Where are you from?
According to research made by Griggs 1993 there are about 120 nations in Europe (probably more; he just didn’t find more at that time). Let’s ask the three questions to some of these people:
  1. What is your nation? Likely answers: Scotland, Catalonia, Vallonia, Bavaria, Brittany, Corsica, etc.
  2. Who are your people? Likely answers: Scots, Catalans, Vallonians, Bavarians, Bretons, Corsicans, etc
  3. Where are you from: Likely answers: Scotland (not Britain), Catalonia (not Spain), Vallonia (not Belgium), Bavaria (not Germany), Brittany or Corsica (not France), etc
Sweden is a state with its origin in Svealand (region of Stockholm and its vicinity). Its present borders have been established by military and colonial means. Some territories were incorporated only some 350 years ago. The official reason for celebrating the national day holiday is to commemorate the King Gustav Vasa, who is claimed to have created Sweden during the 16th Century. This was long before Scania and other territories were conquered by this man’s followers.

So, let’s try the three questions (and a few more) on a conscious Scanian.
  1. Who am I?: Scanian
  2. Who are your people?: Scanians
  3. Where are you from?: Skåne
  4. Do you have a Swedish National Identity?: No, what is that?
  5. Are you a Swedish Citizen?: Yes, happily.
  6. Can you see any reason to join the Swedish National Dag celebrations?: No
  7. Would you have preferred the former Swedish Flags Day (replaced by the national day in 1983)? Yes, absolutely!

# posted by Göran Hansson @ 10:00
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