Essays

Vänstern använder mindre brister i friskolesystemet för att försöka återmonopolisera skolväsendet. Men friskolereformen är ett av de mest framgångsrika initiativ en borgerlig regering tagit, och borgerliga politiker och ungdomsförbund borde försvara dess grunddesign, skrev Hans Bergström i denna essä för Smedjan 20 juni 2023.

The Bildt government, 1991-94, started with an ambitious long-term reform agenda but landed in the acute finance – and currency crisis of 1992. In "Reformatorn", a book about the government that Carl Bildt led, Hans Bergström has written the main essay on the formative moment of 1991. It is more than history. In the midst of a crisis, the government implemented structural reforms (deregulation, a new pension system, tax reforms, etc) which gave Sweden a long period of strong economic growth. These reforms are now in the 2020s at the core of what the left wants to absolish. The political landscape in the 2020s has, furthermore, many similarities with the situation around 1990.

In 2017, Karlstad University celebrated its 50th anniversary with a book about the early years. Hans Bergström was among the pioneering students in 1967. His contribution to the book brings to life the time and its sentiments, with the Vietnam war etc, which led up to the legendary year of 1968. The essay gives personal and vivid memories from a generation which brought down authorities, but it also debunks a few myths about what occupied most students during those formative years.

You can't assume that "politics" and "authorities" always will be there to successfully balance the greed of open markets. Public power is also exercised by humans - with all the same human flaws, including the need to belong to the cultures where they operate. It is time to demystify the public institutions because they represent so much more than just "public interest". This is Hans Bergströms key message in this text from 2016, published in the online newspaper Kvartal.

In this text, from an anthology from 2014 on a major tax system overhaul in Sweden, Hans Bergström argues against making neutrality in distribution a restriction for a tax reform. The main purpose of a tax reform must be to influence behavior in a way which leads to a higher economic growth over time. The result after, say, 5-10 years is then much more important than the static distribution today. A reform inducive to higher growth will furthermore enhance the ability of the state to finance programs for schools, health care, social insurance etc. The expenditure side of the public budgets are likely more important for equality than a type of taxation which hampers innovation, entrepreneurship, job creation and growth.

In this text, from a 2013 anthology about the energy situation, Hans Bergström analyses the direct connection between the handling of energy policy in Sweden and the general political power game. This has been the case since the early 1970s, when nuclear power became controversial. During all these years, there has existed a majority in parliament basically supporting nuclear power. But it has not been able to manifest itself, due to the fact that the governing coalitions have depended upon smaller anti-nuclear parties. To this has been added the problem that the time horizon in power politics is radically shorter than the time horizon for large scale projects in industry.

This is the manuscript for a lecture given by Hans Bergström on the Swedish reforms to break public monopolies and empower families, by giving them the right to choose providers of health care and school. The text was printed after the lecture. It presents the reasons for empowerment and for accepting entrepreneurship also in professions dominated by women. It shows why the counter arguments from the left are based on false assumptions, and urges liberals to go on the offensive when it comes to the right to choose.

In a book from 2012 about Swedish research, Hans Bergström contributes with an essay about the relationship between politicians and voters. Politicians tend not to believe that the electorate could not be made interested in the nation´s research and innovation. But they underestimate citizens. The electorate is not just interested in its personal economy, but in fact searching at election time for a grand story about the nation´s future. The essay also presents a reform program for the organization of the central government, in order to make it more effective in promoting policies for long-term success for the country.

20 years after the basic teacher employment was moved from the state to municipalities, this book discussed the experiences of this change and whether it was time to bring back responsibility for public schools to the national level. Hans Bergström argues in his contribution that the question is incorrectly framed. The state had already regained considerable power over the school system, via laws and inspections. The expansion of free schools had given it legitimacy to add control instruments also over municipal public schools. Thus, the relevant question is no more “state or local” but the balance between national regulation and the autonomy of school operators.

“Images of Sweden” was the theme of the Engelsberg conference in 2011, arranged by the Johnson Foundation in Sweden. Lectures that were given at the conference were later printed in a book. Hans Bergström was invited to give his perspectives, as a keen observer and a political scientist but also as a Swedish-American. He expressed pride in several social inventions in modern Sweden, like the free school system and the new, robust, public pension system. He noted that some of the basic characters of a stable Swedish political system are changing, like the homogeneity of an old nation state and the dominant role of the Social Democratic party.

In a book dedicated to his colleague and friend Janerik Larsson, Hans Bergström contributed this essay about the tendency among European journalists visiting the US to base reporting primarily on their personal negative preconceptions, instead of trying to discover new aspects. This method of “pre-written stories” is common in journalism. Themes for articles are decided in advance of a trip or an investigation. Among certain journalists, the completely negative description of America is also part of a long tradition of self-loathing in relation to Western civilization.

Försäkringskassan, the Swedish social security agency, took the initiative in 2006 to invite several researchers and journalists to reflect on factors changing the conditions for social security administration during the coming decade. Hans Bergstrom´s contribution focused on demography and value transformations between generations. An important observation was that the years of full responsibility had been reduced by a prolonged “youth” period as well as a new period of “freedom” among the younger elderly. The essay was later published by Försäkringskassan under the title “Baby boomer´s era of freedom” (Report 2009:11).

Almost at any point in time, Swedish press has been dominated by liberal newspapers. Editors from these newspapers gathered in “Vänsterpressföreningen”, which was formed in 1905. As part of its 100-year anniversary, a book was published in which researchers and editors analyzed positions and roles of the liberal press throughout 100 years. The introductory essay was written by Hans Bergstrom. He noted that the liberal press was founded long before the formation of political parties. With “the era of the party press” gone, the liberal press now has to find its purpose and direction once again based on ideas.

This essay was part of an anthology on journalism etc in the wake of the IT crash in the early 2000s. Hans Bergström's contribution discusses the relationship between modern journalism and underlying realities. “It is little understood that the image of reality need not be connected to reality.” One example is the many disclosers of “scandals” among politicians, bureaucrats and corporate leaders. They most likely have more to do with a new type of critical journalism than with any deterioration in ethics among the elites.

From an anthology honoring legendary television journalist Åke Ortmark comes this text, where Hans Bergström argues that Swedish journalism on the whole promotes the perspective of the left, even when the governing power is socialist. The public sector is seen as “good”, companies as bad. People are “victims”, not individuals with their own responsibility. Paradigms like these are so dominant in editorial staff rooms that they are taken for granted, as the “normal” way of looking at the world. They cannot be reasonably explained by anything other than the political views of the journalists themselves.

Tidningsutgivarna, the Swedish association of newspapers, in 2002 appointed a group of editors with the task of formulating a declaration concerning the future of reading. Hans Bergström chaired the group and wrote its main text about the civic role of texts and of reading as a culture. The text emphasized the importance of maintaining the habits and contexts which have built the strong Swedish culture of reading and writing. Schools must, also in a new media environment, actively promote reading and the practice of reading and writing.

In this paper from 2001, presented at the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School, Hans Bergström asks whether, in the face of an aging population, the print media is taking due notice? An aging society, and the issues that such a changing society brings, should affect the press in many arenas. It presents news as well as the potential to change news values. It affects the use of different media forms through the day. It will have an enormous impact on the economy. It changes living patterns and the most basic family interactions in ways that strongly affect patterns of media consumption. It is perhaps the most important transition to cover during the course of this century. This paper tries to cover an aging society in relation to various aspects of the press: its internal realities, its commercial relations and its public responsibilities.

The essay defends the importance of the written text also for future years when it is deeply challenged. “A society abandoning reading will find itself on a downslope culturally.” Text and language have deep qualities compared to pictures. In a society with an overflow of messages and information channels, the intellectual sorting and deeper explanation which requires the abstractions offered by language becomes even more important. Newspapers with a strong foundation in values have filled an important role in Sweden as large organizations for processing knowledge. That role can not be cancelled without grave consequences for the quality of our democracy.

This important warning on journalism was published in anthology honoring the legendary editorial writer Nils-Eric Sandberg. Hans Bergström, his chief editor, wrote his contribution as a strong criticism of the tendency not any more to appoint true publicists as editorial leaders. Journalists become reduced to “content providers”, and editors to business leaders. The commercial perspective goes hand in hand with a superficial view of “news”. Both discard the need for intellectual reflection in editorial staffs and a higher purpose. The essay shows evidence of this trend, but also discusses the reasons for it.

In memory of Bertil Ohlin, the liberal party leader and opposition leader in Sweden for all of 23 years (1944-1967), an anthology was published in 1999. For the anthology, Hans Bergström wrote this text that provides a political science analysis of the roles for parties in opposition. In the Swedish party system, there is a strong tension between negotiating for results and campaign for a change of government. The essay predicts that the Social Democrats with reduced size will meet the same type of dilemmas as the non-socialists have long endured. It also notes that the leader of the opposition has a major impact on which issues are in the center of political dispute, as well as on the intellectual quality of public discourse.

During the 1990s, a major research project at the University of Gothenburg covered the history of the Swedish press. It resulted in several volumes, as well as many seminars and reports. For the project, Hans Bergström wrote this text about the important role played by the liberal press during the 1800s in lifting Sweden from being one of the poorest countries in Europe to becoming one of the most modern and prosperous. Corruption was eradicated with the help of a scrutinizing press, and Swedes acquired the habit of daily reading, developing in the process the ability as citizens to reflect also upon difficult issues.

In this contribution to a book about the demands for education in “the new knowledge society”, Hans Bergström disputes the view that society has changed so much that schools should abandon traditional truths. Insetad, Hans argues, youngsters still have to be able to read, write and do math, as well as be trained to work in a disciplined way. What is required is rather a rediscovery of proven traditiona values concerning knowledge and norms, after a disastrous period of “progressive pedagogics”.

Olof Santesson is a legendary foreign policy editor at Dagens Nyheter (DN), with its opinion page as his prime forum. Mr. Santesson worked at DN for 42 years, between 1956 and 1998. In an anthology, honoring him upon his retirement, his chief editor at the time, Hans Bergström, wrote this text about the important role played by Olof Santesson also internally at DN. He further reflects upon the special features of foreign policy in a democracy. It tends to be heavily dominated by a network of diplomats and specialists. DN has played an important role in bringing knowledge and debate on foreign policy issues to the wider public.

Sweden entered the European Union as a new member on January 1, 1995. One of the first important issues became whether the country as a consequence should change currency, to the Euro to be introduced in 1999. The economist Lars Calmfors led a commission on the issue, which in 1996 recommended a “wait and see” approach. Within the editorial board of Dagens Nyheter, there was a pressure that the paper should strongly push for replacing the Krona with the Euro. Hans Bergström, as chief editor, was hesitant. In a series of editorial articles at the end of 1996, he took a cautious position. These editorial articles were later gathered in separate pamphlet - which now is available here.

In this text, from a 1996 book in honor of professor Stig Hadenius, Hans Bergström expresses his profound concern for the quality of our democracy the day newspapers vanish or relinquish their role. The editorial pages of a newspaper like Dagens Nyheter can not be described only as a forum for “views”. Staff, columnists and the debate forum together constitute a qualified institution for regular scrutiny of issues and public processes, and for promoting a deeper understanding among citizens. The good democracy cannot be taken for granted; it is under constant danger of disintegrating. It will not survive without structures upholding its norms and habits.

The financial problems in the early 1990s contributed to increased worries over the ability for the political system to handle difficult economic challenges, long-term. The Swedish Royal Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) published a book in 1994, for which Hans Bergström was invited to analyze media's impact on time horizons in politics and governing. His essay analyzed how a “message inflation” tended to lead to shorter presentations and a new dramaturgy. In this “media twisted reality”, politics becomes more nervous and increasingly shortsighted. The dramaturgic criteria for intake in the media gradually tend to be adapted by career politicians as their criteria for output.

This study from 1994 of the television hearings prior to the 1988 Swedish parliament election is of interest primarily for the methods it developed for analyzing election journalism. It examined the journalistic choices of perspective. The main issues brought up before the election showed to have little relevance for the governing realities after the election. A static perspective of distribution totally dominated over questions on how to achieve dynamic growth. Non-socialist parties were pressed from a leftist perspective, but socialist parties not similarly questioned from the opposite angle. The personal political world view of the journalists had an obvious impact, which points to the need for professional self-reflection.

Hans Bergstrom was in 1994 invited by the Norwegian Academy of Technological Sciences (NTVA) to give a lecture on the logic of natural science versus the media. Hans Bergstrom shows that media logic – with its inclination for drama and simplification – is very different from the thinking that dominates natural science and technology. In a self-critical reflection, he says that journalism should do much more to describe and explain progress in technology. (The lecture was later published in the report “Media and technology”, NTVA report no 3, 1995.)

With a basis in his doctoral dissertation ”Rivstart” (1987), Hans Bergström presents the situation at the time of the takeover of the Carl Bildt government in 1991, in this book in honor of professor Olof Ruin. The essay is foremost a qualified political science analysis of the conditions for governing with a coalition in the minority. This is a difficult type of government, partly because it has to make compromises in two steps, first between parties in government, then with other parties to gain a majority in parliament. Still, minority coalitions have become common, on both sides of the political spectrum.

In 1993, the daily newspaper Nerikes Allehanda in Örebro celebrated its 150 year anniversary. It did so with considerable self-confidence, as the leading regional newspaper in Sweden and with a strong liberal voice. Hans Bergström, who had been its editor a few years earlier, was invited for the anniversary book to give his reflections on the developing media landscape. This resulted in an essay marked by deep worries over the effects of media trends on culture and an enlightened democracy. Reality was becoming ever more complicated, while the media – who's task it is to explain important matters to the public - went more and more simple minded. And this was even at a time before the emergence of “social media”.

An essay from a report that summarized a seminar on the 10-year-anniversary of the support organization for the central government. Hans Bergstrom´s intervention is based mainly on his dissertation Rivstart? (“Hitting the ground running”). The traditional way of driving reforms through commissions working for several years is obsolete in relation to the new global economy as well as the demands of EU membership. Decision making has to be accelerated, and with more active and innovative ministers.

This essay discusses important aspects of reforms in healthcare in Sweden at the beginning of the 1990s. Healthcare systems are marred by a set of basic dilemmas, without any final solution. The solution to one problem, like low productivity, tends to be followed by new problems arising from the solution. There is also a strong path dependency, given how important health care is in people's lives. Structural reforms are needed, but it is equally important to preserve and promote good cultures. A safe forecast is that health care systems will meet more self-assured patients. Informed patients, though, are mostly for the better.

This essay was published in 1992, in the midst of a European currency crisis and shortly before Sweden was to start negotiations for membership in the European Union. It discusses the new conditions for a small nation as a result of the global economy as well as EU membership. It makes the point that Europe needs dynamic differences and fields of social experiments. “The rest of Europe will be more interested in what Sweden can contribute with in terms of creativity than in its ability to implement EU rules. The latter capability is not in doubt by anyone.”

This essay was written as a part of a project from the Swedish parliament on Politics and Ethics. In public discourse, it is common with moral judgments about political proposals. And journalists love to disclose moral deficiencies in politicians. The essay discusses a third type of question: what is good ethics in the political process? The starting point is that words should express authentic convictions, and that actions should be in line with that has been declared. But politics is more complex than that. Can, for example, lying be defensible during any circumstances?

A research anthology, named "Devaluation 1982", was published in 1991, shortly before an election raising the possibility of yet another devaluation of the Swedish krona. Hans Bergström contributed with an analysis of the “Big Bang”-decision from the new Social Democrat government in 1982 to devaluate the krona with 16 percent. He discusses currency changes as a political instrument. The essay concluded that yet another devaluation was less likely, but that a change of the total currency arrangement could happen. After the European currency crisis of 1992, Sweden finally let go of the long established policy of a fixed exchange rate.

This political science analysis of Sweden around 1990 was written for an international readership. Hans Bergström takes as his starting point that the Swedish party system for decades had been characterized by few dimensions of conflict (mainly left/right), a frozen party structure, one dominant political party and a high degree of trust from citizens. He shows that all of this is about to change, More conflict dimensions are added, new parties are emerging, the Social democratic party becomes weaker and the electorate less trustful. Sweden is on its way to be a normal Western democracy and not so much an exemption.

Shortly before the start of negotiations on Swedish membership in the European Union, then vice prime minister Odd Engström gathered a group of Swedes and EU-representatives to discuss European democracy. The three-day conference took place at Häringe castle outside Stockholm. In his contribution, Hans Bergström made the point that EU is establishing itself as a political counterforce to global challenges, but may run into the paradox that it actually contributes to reduced trust in the political system. EU should limit its agenda, accept that many issues are still best handled at the national level and understand that Europe also thrives from interesting dynamic differences.

The liberation from communism in East and Central Europe was an historic event which also raised fundamental questions on how to form functioning democracies where dictatorship had long reined. Hans Bergstrom analyzed this issue in depth in this essay from 1990. He discusses the natural territory, scale and other conditions for a functioning democracy. A serious question in 1990 concerned the territory for new nations. What forms a people, a demos, able to legitimately govern itself? (The essay was published in "Internationella Studier" no 3-4 1990, by the Swedish Institute of International Affairs.)

For the Danish ”Pressens årbog” 1988 (yearbook of the press), Hans Bergström presented his analysis of the hearings etc in Swedish television during the weeks leading up to the Swedish parliamentary election of 1988. The analysis remains highly relevant for journalism during election campaigns. Questions from journalists were totally dominated by a static redistribution perspective, shared by the left. An even more serious weakness was that the journalists nearly completely missed to bring up the realities which showed to become the most pressing to handle for the government after the election. Television coverage during the campaign provided little understanding for the real issues for governing during the coming four years.

Then party leader for the Liberal party, Bengt Westerberg, arranged a series of seminars in Tällberg in Dalarna, Sweden, as a way of deepening his own and his party's thinking on big issues. At such a conference in November 1985, Hans Bergström was asked to introduce the subject of “the liberal view on man”. He prepared the presentation by writing this essay on the topic, later published through the Bertil Ohlin Institute. The essay has become spread and read as an important basic text for Swedish liberalism.

The Swedish election of 1973 resulted in a stalemate situation in parliament, 175/175. At the same time, Opec I created record high inflation and foreboded an economic crisis. This led to the “Haga agreement” between the Social Democrat government and the Liberal party (Fp), with the purpose of showing that the country could be responsibly governed. In this book in honor of the liberal leader Gunnar Helén, Hans Bergström debunks myths about the agreement. Among them is the claim that Helén supported a socialist type of “wage earner funds”.

There is a strong tendency in the political debate in Sweden to dress nearly all issues in the terms of “equality”, Hans Bergström notices in this essay from 1982. The constant use of the theme of “fair distribution” is often motivated more by political convenience than facts. Issues most important for equality are mostly others than what the left likes to bring up: jobs from a growing economy, a demanding school, improved old age care for all. “Equality” should not mean that all public services are the same, nor should it be the only goal for society or be described as the same as “fairness” or “justice”.

This essay comes from an anthology which was published in 1982, when the cold war was at its coldest. Hans Bergström then wrote in his contribution that no singular change would contribute more to peace than if the Bolsheviks had to abandon their dictatorship over the Soviet Union. The essay further discusses, with reference to the legendary liberal leader Bertil Ohlin, what happens when the state takes upon itself larger tasks than it can handle: decision and information overload, growing corruption and a gradual decrease in trust for democratic institutions.

In the wake of a wave of radicalization in the West, with 1968 as a symbolic year, and the new power demonstrated by the third world oil producing cartel during the 1970s (Opec I and Opec II), the concept of “a new economic world order” became á la mode. This text argues, in particular, for open access to trade as the most important factor for a take off of the economies of poor countries. The text was first published in the book "Liberaler om utveckling" (LT:s förlag, 1979) by a group of leading liberals in Sweden, defending a free market position, combined with enhanced development aid.