During the corona crisis, Sweden took a special path – and was harshly criticized. In relative terms, COVID-19 has hit the country harder than Germany and the hoped-for “herd immunity” has not materialized. But Scandinavia’s largest country is also a special case in other respects, although much of the same applies to its neighbors Denmark and Norway.
Jantelagen – the law of Jante
This is the law of Jante, a fictitious town in Denmark:
You should not believe that you are something special.
You should not believe that you are our equal.
Don’t think you’re smarter than us.
Don’t imagine that you are better than us.
Don’t think you know more than we do.
You should not believe that you are worth more than us.
You should not believe that you are good for anything.
You should not laugh at us.
You should not believe that anyone cares about you.
I don’t want you to think you can teach us anything.
These actually sarcastic “commandments” were formulated by the writer Axel Sandemose in 1933 in his novel “A Fugitive Crosses His Trail”. Regardless of the original intention, this “law” developed into a code of conduct in the Scandinavian countries.
It’s not about the individual
The collective is important here. The Jantelag propagates modesty and the integration of the individual into society. Anyone who stood out was “a criminal offense to society”. Of course, no one went to prison for this, but the social consequences were also a form of punishment. Protestantism also ensured that the Jantelag fell on fertile ground: modesty and the collective are also anchored in the Protestant faith.
Hierarchies
On this basis, it is easy to understand that Sweden has much flatter hierarchies than Germany and that interactions between hierarchical levels are very different. It is particularly important to address this in intercultural training and coaching in Sweden, as it is precisely this that provides the seeds for major conflicts.
The “Volksheim”
Consequently, the Swedes, like Denmark and Norway, established a welfare state (“people’s home”) that took care of all possible aspects of life. On the one hand, this was intended to provide security for the individual, but on the other hand, the price was high: the tax burden for the individual was exorbitant, at its peak over 100%!!!
Transparency taken to the extreme
It is quite amazing. Every Swede is numbered. As soon as they are born, they are given a birth number that stays with them for the rest of their lives. The Swedes have also achieved amazing things in the electronic age. For example, anyone can use their birth number to see what their neighbor earns. You can also check whether a sex offender lives in the neighborhood, for example, even though he has served his sentence. German data protectionists would go on the barricades immediately!
The economy – an example of success
So how is it that such a relatively small country, with a population of just 7 million after the Second World War, was able to produce major global corporations such as IKEA, Ericsson, Volvo and Husqvarna? Well, as far as taxes are concerned, the Swedes were not quite so naive. Even if personal taxes are high, they are advantageously low for companies. And of course there are always people who stand out for their ideas, drive and courage. In Sweden, they just don’t have to behave so conspicuously.
Intercultural training Sweden – a necessity
As you can see, there is a different code of conduct in Sweden than in Germany. It is therefore advisable to inform yourself in advance when it comes to negotiations or postings. Under no circumstances should you underestimate the differences just because there are assumed similarities between Germans and Swedes. This can easily backfire, as many examples from our experience show. Knowing the Swedish cultural differences is the key to success in the far north.
