Technology of the Loop

The 50's

1950 1959

The '60's

1960 1969

The '70s

1970 1979

A decade of change, of flower power, of cold war and strange clothes.

The '80s

1980 1989

Sweden in the 1980s - Some call it a socialist utopia, others a failed experiment of finding a middle way between capitalism and communism. It is a country governed by the monolithic Social Democratic party, who have ruled more or less single-handedly since World War II. It’s a far cry from the communist countries of Eastern Europe, but the belief that the government should care for its citizens from the cradle to grave is still strong. Education is free for everyone, as is health care. Alcohol is only sold in state owned Systembolaget stores, there are only two TV channels - both state owned and showing a mix of American soap operas, Swedish social realist dramas, and cartoons from behind the Iron Curtain.   Sweden is officially neutral, and is not aligned with NATO or the Warsaw Pact. Indeed, it was one of the few countries in Europe that was not occupied and did not fight in World War II, a subject that has been much debated among its less lucky neighbors. But regardless of what Finns or Norwegians think about Sweden’s way of not taking sides, it is firmly entrenched in the Swedish psyche. The Social Democratic government has good diplomatic relations with both the Soviet Union and the US. But even if the official stance always is to never pick a side, it is an open secret that the 1970-79   Swedish military, many politicians, and a large part of the population only really see one obvious enemy: the Soviet Union. There are rumors that cooperation with NATO countries is more widespread than commonly believed, and some talk about secret research and intelligence projects in cooperation with US representatives. When the Soviet submarine U-137 runs aground outside Blekinge in southern Sweden in 1981, the threat suddenly becomes very real. After the incident, the Swedish navy steps up its efforts,and submarine hunting becomes a regular thing throughout the rest of the decade, although with no tangible results.   Sweden is also a changing society. Influence from the West, and especially the US and the UK, is growing stronger both in popular culture and in economic policies. So-called “yuppies” are celebrating the capitalist way in Stockholm, with one hand on an absurdly large mobile phone and the other on the steering wheel of a Porsche. Kids are playing with Garbage Pail Kids, He- Man and Transformers. The personal computer can be found in many homes, most often in the form of the Commodore 64.   Pen and paper roleplaying games, like Drakar och Demoner and Mutant, sell 100,000 copies. Going on charter vacations becomes a national pastime. The shift from the idealistic and political ’70s to a more individual and pleasure-seeking way of life in the ’80s is gradual, but clear. In February 1986, Swedes awake to momentous news: the iconic Prime Minister Olof Palme has been murdered in cold blood in downtown Stockholm. The murder will never be solved, and some claim that this marks the end of the age of innocence in Sweden. Throughout the decade, the Swedes carry on with their lives the way they have always done. Enduring the long cold winters, spending the short but beautiful summers in country houses, and the rest of the year longing for next summer