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.”