folkhemmet

Folkhemmet, meaning "the people's home," is a Swedish political and social concept associated with the Swedish Social Democratic Party. It describes a welfare-state framework built on social solidarity, universal services, and a sense of national community, with the aim of reducing class differences and ensuring security for all citizens.

Historically, the term was popularized by Prime Minister Per Albin Hansson in a 1928 speech, presenting a vision of Sweden as a single household in which the state and citizens share responsibility for welfare. The concept guided policy from the 1930s through the 1960s, as reforms expanded social insurance, healthcare, education, pensions, and unemployment protection.

Key elements include universal access to essential services, a broad welfare state funded by income taxes and social contributions, and a close collaboration between the state, employers, and unions. Housing policy also played a central role, with extensive public housing programs aimed at eradicating slums and providing affordable homes, culminating in the Miljonprogrammet initiative of the 1960s and 1970s.

World War II and the postwar period solidified the model, contributing to a high standard of living and strong social cohesion. In the 1960s and 1970s, the folkhemmet concept shaped broad reform efforts and social policy. The idea remains a shorthand for the Swedish model of social democracy, though it faced fiscal and political pressures in later decades.

Today, the term is used to explain historical policy and to frame ongoing debates about welfare, taxation, and social cohesion in Sweden. It remains a symbolic reference for discussions of universalism, egalitarianism, and the role of the state in citizens’ lives.