Sweden's Pandemic Story: Covid-19, A Chronology 2020-23

Sweden and Covid-19? An approach that was intriguing to those outside the country and of continuing interest 5-years on, but while outcomes compared badly with the Nordic region as a whole, its experience and outcomes were not so far removed from that of other European countries of comparable size.

While hard lockdown was avoided in Sweden during Covid-19, 5 years on much reflection has taken place over the pandemic legacy across the world. The US House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic concluded its investigations in 2024, and the UK Covid-19 Inquiry continued into 2025 and 2026. Sweden was also scrutinized by a Coronakommission, its final report appearing in 2022.

The aftermath of Sweden's pandemic pointed to experience and outcome not so far removed from that of other European countries of comparable size. However, its critics, excited and intrigued by Sweden's approach to Covid-19, would point to the many elderly dead and see unfavorable comparison with outcomes elsewhere in the Nordic region.

This detailed and fact-filled book embraces the continuing interest in Sweden's approach, and is an attempt to dismantle the myths and misconceptions around it, offering a more nuanced and thorough understanding of Sweden's response to Covid-19.

Autorentext
Graeme D. Eddie has worked and studied in Sweden, and a period of research at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs contributed to a PhD (Aberdeen University). His first published book was Swedish foreign policy, 1809-2019: A comprehensive modern history (2020).

Inhalt

Acknowledgements - Acronyms and Abbreviations - Swedish Regions & Principal Towns & Cities - Introduction: Sweden the 'Outrider', Sweden the Maverick - Chapter 1 A Novel Coronavirus - COVID-19 - Chapter 2 Criticism and Defence - Chapter 3 Sweden's COVID-19 Mortality and R-Rate - Chapter 4 Easing of Measures - Chapter 5 New Normal - Chapter 6 Sweden the Maverick? Sweden a Cautionary Tale? - Chapter 7 The Fightback Had Begun - Chapter 8 Continuing Onslaught - Chapter 9 Renewing Connexions - Chapter 10 Coronakommissionen and Other Inquiries - Final Chapter Foolhardy, Exceptional, or Just Principled? - Bibliography - Index