We definitely agree iron ore was a very important war material, but what I wish to point out is this:
- From a Nazi German perspective, the imports of Swedish iron ore were convenient, but not as decisive as some people seem to think. This means a lot of things. Among others, that it was not up to Sweden to determine the outcome of WWII.
But even if it was, why should a neutral country refrain from sticking to the ideal of free trade?
Sweden's continuous trade with Nazi Germany (as well as the Allies and not at least Finland) simply means it REMAINED neutral NOT that Sweden gave up neutrality!
Concerning Russia lagging behind the richest economies of today, I claim that Feudalism also matters.
Like you are well aware of, Feudalism also existed in Germany, Italy and France. These nations are not poor, but compared to countries like Sweden, Canada, Switzerland and the US, which have a stronger tradition of self governance (Sweden has high taxes and strong unions, but it also important to remember that Swedish farmers were running their own farms and enjoyed representation in parliament while most French, Italian and German peasants practically were slaves), they are poorer.
West Germany is not very far from Sweden or the US in terms of standard of living, but even in West Germany strikes occur and there is not enough sense of responsibility among ordinary workers and union leaders. Many Germans are very intelligent and well educated, but still many of them seem to lack belief in Capitalism, their companies and their nation. In the case of Italy and France, the situation is even worse.
But at least, France and Italy are democracies.
Few people in Western Europe feel Russia is today. I'm not an expert of Russia and there are a lot of things you can criticize concerning Swedish democracy, but something that might be of greater importance is whether or not the average Russian feels he is in control of his own future and that people like him is in control of the future of their nation.
Despite the shortcomings as well as the differences of USA and Sweden of today, these two countries exemplifies what Capitalism and democracy can do to develop a country. Switzerland and Finland are two other good examples of this. Russia and many other countries could learn a lot from
them if they wished to be self critical and truly open minded.
Yes, these countries feature several differences, for instance Sweden is more Socialist than the US (but also more Capitalist in the sense we are even engaged in the national performance of our multinationals than most Americans are, many Americans view their big corporations simply as “milk-cows”), but what they/we have in common
is that they are world-leaders in terms of being well functioning democratic nations where the individual citizen have a very strong position in society AS WELL as countries that have produced plenty of successful multinational companies in relation to their population (Germany is, in fact, not that impressive given its population size). I don't accuse you of not understanding the blessings of Capitalism and democracy, but I fear there are not enough Russians like you. I sincerely hope Russia will choose to become more democratic (no, not politically correct, that's not what I'm saying) and even more Capitalist instead of becoming more protectionist and authoritarian.
why should a neutral country refrain from sticking to the ideal of free trade?
On the same reason on which a shop owner refrains from that ideal by denying to sell booze to a minor , and a gun dealer doesn't sell bullets to a known convicted criminal.
I claim that Feudalism also matters.
Like you are well aware of, Feudalism also existed in Germany, Italy and France. These nations are not poor, but compared to countries like Sweden, Canada, Switzerland and the US, which have a stronger tradition of self governance [...]they are poorer.
This doesn't work for Ireland or Austria which are wealthier than Sweden in terms of GDP per capita
Few people in Western Europe feel Russia is today
Pardon?
But at least, France and Italy are democracies.
France, Italy and Germany have contributed more to the world's economy, science, technology, culture and art than Sweden. They have enough to be proud of.
Russian feels he is in control of his own future and that people like him is in control of the future of their nation.
Most of us don't rely on the government in the issues of our personal lives, the USSR's collapse and the nineties taught us this. People like me are less in control of my country future than in Sweden - it's a fact.
USA and Sweden of today, these two countries exemplifies what Capitalism and democracy can do to develop a country. Switzerland and Finland are two other good examples of this.
I wonder how China progresses in double digits annually, while there's no democracy and is there capitalism? While Brazil and Argentina are capitalistic but not rich at all. Sweden is hardly a capitalistic country with its vast social system.
I don't accuse you of not understanding the blessings of Capitalism and democracy, but I fear there are not enough Russians like you. I sincerely hope Russia will choose to become more democratic (no, not politically correct, that's not what I'm saying) and even more Capitalist instead of becoming more protectionist and authoritarian.
I don't think there is a wonder weapon whether it's Capitalism or anything else. Since that was capitalism which made slavery in the USA, serfdom to the East of Elba profitable. The "Spinning Jenny" machine made 0.5 mln people in the XVIII century's UK die of hunger. The top of the capitalistic food chain hasn't enough place for each country. But Russia needs to be more capitalist and more democratic while this can take more time than many expect and the ways may be not democratic at all.