THE U.S.-SCANDINAVIAN COLD WAR RELATIONS IN VIEW OF THE SWEDISH NEUTRALITY, 1947–1962.

Abstract

The article aims at presenting – very fragile and scanty – foreign relations existing between the Unites States of America and Sweden during the initial Cold War period. The author discusses the Swedish reluctance to give up its neutrality as contrary to the expectations which America had with reference to Sweden. In order to receive American aid, particularly in the form of military equipment, the American government required significant contributions to be made on the part of Sweden and her people in the process of non-alignment with the Communist Block. The article both presents the American public diplomacy efforts to have been exercised mostly via cultural and educational exchange programs and demonstrates the activities of the United States Information Agency undertook so as to convince the Swedish society to American culture, American people and American foreign policy aims and tools. Although Sweden remained determined to continue its policy of non-alliance and neutrality, she nevertheless contributed to the improvement of East-West relations.