Proponents of the welfare state frequently point to Sweden as the prime example of a successful social democracy; that is, an economy that possesses such characteristics of popular participation in government as voting, but with emphasis on heavy taxation and the welfare state. In the case of Sweden, however, there are several important factors to be considered that contradict such arguments.

It is crucial, firstly, to understand that Sweden’s status as a relatively wealthy and prosperous nation was not achieved with strong intervention of the central government. Prior to the mid-19th century, the Swedish economy was growing exponentially wealthier with each passing year–not by the magical workings of the state, but rather by the nation’s lack of significant interference in the market.

Yet this began to change as policies shifted toward higher taxation and increased government involvement in the Swedish economy. In the 1970s and 1980s, as taxes and subsequently government spending increased significantly, the growth of the economy slowed. Fewer new business firms were founded in the nation during this period as it became increasingly difficult to do so. By the early 1990s, Sweden had fallen from the 4th richest among industrialized countries to 14th.

In decades since, Sweden has once again tended toward a free economy. On numerous occasions, Swedish prime minister from 2006-2014 Fredrik Reinfeldt voiced his support of the free market economy, believing that the welfare state had in fact negatively affected the nation’s prosperity that had been built upon such an economy. As of 2010, Sweden ranked higher than the United States in numerous freedoms pertaining to business and the economy.

Fascism, as defined by the Oxford dictionary, is “an authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization.” Such ideas greatly diminished in popularity after World War II. Among prominent fascist leaders of the 20th century were Benito Mussolini of Italy and Adolf Hitler of Germany. The most important characteristic of fascism is its strong emphasis on nationalism and glorification of the state. As Mussolini, the primary founder of fascism, famously stated, “everything for the state, nothing outside the state, nothing Above the State.”

This ties directly into the idea of the public interest taking priority over the private interest. Under a fascist regime, individual rights are greatly discounted in favor of what the state promotes as the greater good; thus, the will of the state–and specifically its leader–has full supremacy. In its day, fascism was viewed as an alternative “third road” to capitalism and communism, being itself opposed to both. Fascism utilized charismatic dictators like Hitler and Mussolini in order to advance political centralization and ultimate government glorification.🔹