Sweden came to be seen as the epitome of modernity during the 1930s, mainly due to the book “Sweden: The Middle Way”, written by the American journalist Marquis Childs. Childs’ book influenced how the world viewed Sweden, and Sweden became a model. In addition, Sweden has, for most of the twentieth century, perceived itself to be “the world’s most modern country”. In this project the construction of Sweden as “the world’s most modern country” is examined from a global historical perspective. The studies focus on the world fairs that were organized by the Bureau International des Expositions and held in Brussels in 1935, Paris in 1937 and New York in 1939. World fairs constitutes not only global time-space they are also perfect globalization portals.
The studies within this project are carried out using David Harvey’s theory of space. Conceptualized space, lived space and experienced space are examined in relation to absolute space, relative space, and relational space. The project focuses on the plans for how Sweden was to be presented (conceptualized space), the presentations of Sweden (lived space) and the reactions to how Sweden presented itself (experienced space).
Harvey’s concept of time and space makes it possible to identify, distinguish and clarify the reflexive and dialectical process that takes place over both time and space, as well as between local and global space. The images constructed by Sweden did not take place in a vacuum but were the result of a series of negotiations that took place in the global space and were influenced by global currents. Negotiations on which image of Sweden that would be presented at a world fair took place at the planning stage. Furthermore, how the presentation of Sweden on the global arena was received gave rise to new negotiations in connection with the planning of the next exhibition.
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