Everyone’s favourite socialist (Bernie sanders) typically uses any Scandinavian country to point out that socialism is not only possible, but better than capitalism. His Millennial acolytes, lured by the promise of free tuition and free healthcare, usually join him in his praise. Oh, just look at Denmark and Sweden…if only we could be more like them….
Not so socialist after all
If you are looking for countries that have extremely low trade barriers, little market regulation, and strong property rights, go to Scandinavia. Scandinavian countries have an odd mixture of left wing policies (high tax, lots of free stuff, great unemployment benefits) and right wing policies (no minimum wage, free trade.). It is hardly what a socialist purist would consider socialism. But for the young hip left, maybe straight up socialism is not what they are after. Perhaps they just want the Nordic Model (Social democracy).
Denmark, not so progressive after all
Denmark has extremely low poverty rates, lots of paternity/maternity leave, a short work week and all sorts of things that someone of the #occupywallstreet persuasion would love. It also has the world’s highest alcoholism rates, extremely poor medical services and highest cancer and depression rates. But, for a moment, we will just look at the good or the neutral, not the bad. Until the 1970s, Denmark had extremely little immigration. Now it has some minority groups, but nothing compared to America’s demographic make-up. Denmark is not what you would call multicultural. But more to the point it’s social democratic principles were born years ago when it was a completely homogeneous country. At that point the government and its people looked the same, talked the same, had the same religion, and had the same values. There was no tribalism; indeed, there were hardly any differences in opinion. It is impossible to apply social democratic principles in a multicultural country where everyone votes in a tribal manner. Although that hasn’t stopped Sweden from trying.
The structural integrity of Sweden
It’s strange looking at a country that is so riddled with structural problems that even if there was the willpower to make a change, it is probably too late. Sweden, thanks to its generous immigration policies (that started in the 70s, just like Denmark), now has a gender balance of about 123 men to every 100 women in certain age brackets. Even China’s gender imbalance is better, and the Chinese killed lots of their baby girls. This gender imbalance that Sweden faces is going to do one thing. It is going to make life very unpleasant for Swedish women, as men become more violent and misogynistic. For that is what happens to any society when there aren’t enough women for all the men. This is without taking into account that the gender imbalance was caused by importing men from already misogynistic cultures.
Not only this, but Sweden’s newly acquired ethnic groups do not see welfare as something to first avoid, and then use minimally. They see it as something that was set up and designed for their usage. It is not a source of shame. In fact, you get the distinct impression that using welfare is a source of pride for these people. This is because the country is becoming increasingly bi-cultural. Bi-cultural countries occur when there are two strong main cultures that share their allegiance with their cultural group, not their country. And bi-cultural countries are notoriously unstable. Just look at Rwanda. Sweden’s system may work for a little longer, but these structural problems will end up destroying Sweden.
Scandinavian countries…Meh…not so great
I would love to live in a homogeneous Scandinavian country with their funny mixture of socialism and capitalism. But those Scandinavian countries are long gone. What Bernie and co are witnessing is the destruction of several social democracies at the hands of multiculturalism. For you can have one and the other, but not both.