The United States, Russia and China are recognised as major powers, along with aspirants such as Japan, India and Brazil. We also have significant regional players such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan, Australia and others. European countries such as the UK, Germany and France are often included. The question is, what about Europe? And our ability to exercise power,   …  

We see protesting farmers all over Europe blocking roads and dumping manure. But they do not upset the unworldly and arrogant leadership in Brussels. Individual Europeans have little love for the EU project. Whilst many think the original idea is a good one, they are not willing to engage with the political issues or even participate in the elections. Instead,   …  

Firstly, I think it is an insult to artificial intelligence to call today’s chatbots this. They are at best cleverly designed software and at worst propaganda machines. Even when they were launched a few years ago, they showed signs of censorship and adaptation to the current social climate. For example, when I asked ChatGTP whether it thought Joe Biden was   …  

We live in a world where prejudice is constantly being challenged and rejected, while statistics are elevated to a noble and important art form. Statistics are used, among other things, to predict elections and to make political and business decisions. At the same time, biases and statistical assumptions work in a similar way. Let me explain my thinking here. If   …  

There has always been an incentive for the mediocre to hold back the skilful. The driven and competent make the others look half-baked. And this is not appreciated, better to regulate and restrain those who want too much. And there are many different traces of this in human history. Today we think of it as a left-wing phenomenon, but jealousy   …  

Sweden is at the forefront of waste management and recycling technologies. Most garbage is recycled or incinerated under controlled conditions in heating plants. It was a long time ago that we dumped our rubbish in so-called landfills, where the waste could sometimes burn day and night, and the stench spread across the neighbourhood. However, landfills are still common in other   …  

There is a lot of talk about growth in economic discussions, often with the hope that it will last forever. But we know that this is not the case; sometimes there are hiccups in the machinery in the form of economic crises, recessions, etc. On the other hand, we have not experienced real paradigm shifts in modern times, where growth   …  

Mines, iron ore and forests have long been part of Sweden’s basic industry. The iron could be refined into swords and cannons, and the forest into ships, buildings and furniture. But it was during the later stages of the industrial revolution, between 1870 and 1970, that Sweden became one of the richest nations in the world, with a standard of   …  

We remember the 1983 film Trading places. It was about a bet, about whether heritage or environment was superior or subordinate. Could a black guy from the slums, given the right conditions, lead a long-established brokerage firm to success? And would a successful stockbroker become a crook and vagrant if his circumstances changed as well? As an experiment, the two   …  

I see few natural leaders in Sweden, either in politics or business. My definition of a leader includes both practical leadership qualities as well as charisma, eloquence and some education. Most people in a leadership position resemble quota-based class presidents. They don’t really belong in their role, either intellectually or practically. Jimmie Åkesson, whatever you think of his politics, is   …  

Many people who have travelled in Asia, especially in Japan, come home and tell us how safe and orderly it is there. They are fascinated by clean streets and squares, high standards, well prepared food, low crime, trains that arrive on time, and that people are well dressed, polite and friendly. Let that sink in. Safe and orderly. About as   …