Mats Engström

Mats Engström is a writer. He was editorial writer at the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet for seven years, and has written extensively on European affairs for Swedish and other publications. He has also held various positions in the Swedish government services, including special advisor and deputy state secretary to Anna Lindh from 1994-2001. His blog is here.

The Swedish model is still alive

Stefan Löfven's party received 28.4% of the votes, a strong result for a Social Democratic party in government in today's Europe.

By Mats Engström

/ 10 Sep 2018

The Swedish model is still alive

Stefan Löfven's party received 28.4% of the votes, a strong result for a Social Democratic party in government in today's Europe.

By Mats Engström

/ 10 Sep 2018

Sweden’s Social Democrats: the test of failure

The electoral victory of Sweden’s centre-right coalition forces is a historic setback for the country’s once-hegemonic Social Democrats. The pain of defeat is sharpened by the electoral advance of the anti-immigrant Swedish Democrats. To find their way across this new political landscape the centr

By Mats Engström

/ 23 Sep 2010

Sweden's changing

The challenge of an emergent xenophobic populism in Sweden is provoking thoughtful centre-left voices to seek an effective response, finds Mats Engström in Stockholm.

By Mats Engström

/ 10 Dec 2009

Latvia’s crisis: the Swedish factor

Cold winds are blowing through Latvia. The sun might be shining on the beautiful beaches along the Baltic Sea in this small European Union state, but the temperature of the

By Mats Engström

/ 10 Jun 2009

Europe and terrorism: the wrong path

The police car blocks my way on the small gravel road. At first I don't get it. Then I back off, into a glade in the darkness behind.

By Mats Engström

/ 7 Nov 2007

Europe's green power

By 2020, it was becoming clear that the European Union's climate debate and decisions in 2006-07 had been a turning-point in public awareness and public policy whose effects

By Mats Engström

/ 25 Mar 2007

We still love the Swedish model

Many people around the world seem fond of the Swedish welfare system. As a DJ on XM Radio, Bob Dylan chose the theme "rich and poor" for one

By Mats Engström

/ 18 Sep 2006

The fear haunting Europe

Does Pope Benedict XVI qualify as a citizen of the European Union? Joseph Ratzinger would hardly pass the tolerance test set up by the state of Baden-Württemberg in his native

By Mats Engström

/ 25 May 2006

A broader coalition for human rights

In the last days of 2005, leading thinkers and scholars from around the world share their fears, hopes and expectations of 2006. As Isabel Hilton asks: What does 2006 have in store? (Part one)

By Mats Engström

/ 22 Dec 2005

The European Unions anti-terror plans: lift the secrecy

For the memorandum dated 11 November 2005 from the president of the Council of Ministers of the European Union to the councils Article 36 / Political and Security Committee, containing

By Mats Engström

/ 28 Nov 2005

Democracy is hard, but the only way

The poster behind John Monks read For a Social Europe. What happens if the proposal for a European Union directive on services is implemented, I asked the secretary-general of the

By Mats Engström

/ 5 Jun 2005