Sweden/History

Background: A military power during the 17th century, Sweden has not participated in any war in almost two centuries. An armed neutrality was preserved in both World Wars. Sweden's long-successful economic formula of a capitalist system interlarded with substantial welfare elements has recently been undermined by high unemployment, rising maintenance costs, and a declining position in world markets. Indecision over the country's role in the political and economic integration of Europe caused Sweden not to join the EU until 1995, and to forgo the introduction of the euro in 1999.

Not from CIA factbook: The country that is now known as Sweden once consisted of three smaller kingdoms, Västra Götaland, Östra Götaland and Svealand. Svealand was the region around today's central Sweden, the area where Stockholm lies. In the 13th century, the three countries were united under a single king, who founded Sweden. The Swedish name for Sweden is Sverige, which is close to the Danish pronounciation of Svea rike, which in English is roughly The kingdom of the Swedes. The Swedish national symbol "Three Crowns" represents the three countries, and that one king had all three crowns.