Utopia Like Any Other

"Since the 1930s, when the world was wowed by the Stockholm Exhibition, to most people Sweden has meant clean lines, good public housing, and a Social Democratic government. More recently the Swedes have been lauded for their environmental credentials, their aspirational free schools, and their hardy economy. But what's the truth of the Swedish model? Is modern Sweden really doing that much better than rest of Europe? In this insightful exploration of where Sweden has been, where it's going, and what the rest of us can learn from its journey, journalist Dominic Hinde explores the truth behind the myth of a Swedish Utopia. In his quest for answers Hinde travels the length of the country and beyond: enjoying July sunshine on the island of Gotland for 'Almedalan Week'; venturing into the Arctic Circle to visit a town about to be swallowed up by the very mine it exists to serve; even taking a trip to Shanghai to take in the suburban Chinese interpretation of Scandinavia, 'Swedish Town', a Nordic city in miniature in the smog of China's largest metropolis"--Page 4 of cover.