Thursday, 8 October 2009

Sweden - Constitution

Just in the first article alone it talks about power being vested in the people and the people's right to opinion and equality. The fist article also says that the people's opinion is voiced through the representatives and parliamentary polity. All of these ideas relate to John Locke and later Enlightenment thinkers. The second article discusses minority religions to be allowed to practice their beliefs and have a life of their own. This relates directly to Voltaire's ideas of religious tolerance and separation of church and state. The second article also discusses equality between both men and women, which is not seen in most constitutions that have been written before the Swedish constitution. You can relate this to Mary Wollstonecraft's idea of equality for both genders. Article 4 states that Parliament is there as a representative of the people and should watch the government so the people are represented fairly. Article 7 discusses local elections and voting for communes. Article 9 states that withing court, the authorities and performing functions should seek equality within their work and should maintain impartiality.
In article 1 of chapter 2: Fundamental Rights and Freedoms, it says that all citizens should be granted freedom of expression, freedom to communicate thoughts in writing or orally, freedom of information, freedom of assembly, and freedom of association. These thoughts relate to Locke and Rousseau especially because they are considered natural freedoms. The rest of the articles within this section discusses political and social thought that was not focused on during the Enlightenment, such as capital punishment.
Overall, the beginning of the document really covers a diverse mix of Enlightenment thinkers.

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