How much does Janteloven control Swedish people?

[u/Progressive-Change]

Is it a powerful force and concept or is it sort of subtle? I'm American so I have no idea what the concept is or what it's like in demonstration but I have read about it. Apparently, it controls the entirety of the Scandinavian/Nordic nations too by displaying a certain mindset about society. Do people follow it closely or is it just a concept?

https://www.scandinaviastandard.com/what-is-janteloven-the-law-of-jante/

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[u/GooseMoose_777]

I would say Janteloven is a fading cultural undercurrent. It’s strongest in rural areas and traditional circles but weakening among urbanites, elites, and younger generations.

Janteloven encourages conformity, humility, modesty and collectivism (We vs I, Us vs Me).

However, Sweden is becoming increasingly capitalistic than it is socialist. Capitalism and Janteloven simply don't go hand in hand, as capitalism encourages individualism, personal success, self-expression and ambition.

As capitalism exacerbates inequality in Sweden, the working and middle classes remain somewhat constrained by Janteloven’s pressure, which has become a tool that keeps conformity in place. Meanwhile, the upper class, entrepreneurs, and politicians largely disregard it.

The book Greedy Sweden: How the People’s Home Turned into a Paradise for the Ultra-Wealthy highlights the drastic change in Sweden’s socioeconomic model very well. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been translated into English yet (as far as I know), but links below summarize all the major points:

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/sweden-has-one-of-the-most-unequal-societies-in-the-world-expert/2854893

https://pivic.blog/blog/swedish-greed-seen-through-andreas-cervenkas-eyes/

https://www.library.hbs.edu/working-knowledge/is-sweden-still-sweden-a-liberal-utopia-grapples-with-an-identity-crisis

[u/Progressive-Change → u/GooseMoose_777]

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