The A to Z of Sweden relates the history of Sweden through a chronology, a list of acronyms and abbreviations, an introductory essay, a bibliography, appendixes, and hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries on significant persons, events, and institutions, this dictionary provides information ranging from politics to economics, from education to religion, and from music to literature.

Sweden's transformation in the last century was brought about not by the military prowess of exceptional Swedes (indeed neutrality has been a key element in Swedish policy for almost two centuries) but by the creative ability of its people. Sweden has emerged as a model welfare state and a well-ordered democracy, to which economists, sociologists, feminists, architects, and scientists from sophisticated nations have paid study visits. Sweden now depends on international trade to preserve its high standard of living and, in a world of harsh international competition, often has to struggle to...