The Swedish-Norwegian Union Crisis A History with Documents

"The Swedish-Norwegian Union Crisis" by Karl Nordlund is a concise historical record from the early 1900s that sheds light on the division between Sweden and Norway, tracing the path to the end of their political alliance. It offers both a narrative summary and key documents to explore the political tactics and discussions that occurred between the two countries. The author begins by clarifying the book's purpose: to clarify the roots and progression of the union crisis over several years while highlighting the complicated legal and political factors at play. The narrative emphasizes Sweden's historical control over the union's foreign policy, Norway's increasing desire for equal footing, and stalled reform attempts. It establishes the environment that eventually led to Norway's independence drive. The tensions that grew between the two countries are made plain, especially when diplomatic talks collapsed.