National Revanchism at a Critical Juncture: Sweden’s Near-Involvement in the Crimean War as a Study in Swedish Nationalism
Year: 2019
Type: article
Abstract: This article argues that the persistent revanchist feelings in Sweden vis-à-vis Russia over the loss of Finland in 1809 constitute a broad undercurrent in Sweden’s otherwise peaceful modern history. The Franco-British attempts to draw Sweden into the Crimean War (1853–1856) against Russia are studied as an example of one such ‘critical juncture’ that brought Sweden very close to joining a war with the expectation of reconquering Finland. Facilitated by the development of the modern public sphere in Sweden, the war enthusiasm in the Swedish liberal press reflected a deeply-felt national humiliation over the defeat in 1809, but also linked to anxieties over the development of Finnish (Fennoman) nationalism and the possibilities of realising the goals of the Scandinavianist movement.
Source: Scandinavica
Author: Mart Kuldkepp
Institutions: University College Lillebaelt, University College London
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W3037818918