Neutralitys Empire - Swedish Colonialism in the Industrial Age

Reconciling Sweden's reputation for political neutrality and scientific prestige alongside its involvement in extractivist colonial projects exposes uncomfortable overlaps between these seemingly disparate ventures. In this illuminating reappraisal of the intersections between Swedish colonialism and its industrial history, Neutrality's Empire explores how Swedish actors--ranging from diplomats and business leaders to missionaries, geologists and engineers--leveraged Sweden's global standing to access valuable mineral resources across Africa and Asia. In doing so, this book presents a historical narrative which clarifies Sweden's entanglement with the forces of globalization, colonialism, and climate change.

About the author

Per Högselius is Professor of History of Technology at KTH Royal Institute of Technology. His research and teaching focuses on energy history and extractivism in an international context. His book Red Gas: Russia and the Origins of European Energy Dependence (2013) won the Marshall Shulman Book Prize, awarded by the Association for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES).

Product details

• Authors: Per Nilsson Hogselius, Per Högselius, David Nilsson, Hanna Vikström
• Publisher: BERGHAHN BOOKS, INC
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 15.09.2025
• EAN: 9781836951599
• ISBN: 978-1-83695-159-9
• No. of pages: 280
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; POLITICAL SCIENCE / Labor & Industrial Relations, Sweden, Colonialism & imperialism, Colonialism and imperialism, Industrialisation & Industrial History, Industrialisation and industrial history, HISTORY / Europe / Nordic Countries