Carl Abrahamsson: Swedish & Swiss Subconscious Sensibilities

An example of Swiss rebellion of the more moderate kind. Altstadt, Basel.

People all over the world usually mistake Sweden for Switzerland and vice versa. Sure, the names are sounding (somewhat) alike but there seems to be a mirage-image in there too: one of neutrality, high standards of living, a conservative kind of liberalism etc. A people slightly reserved at first, but definitely also open-minded, creative, industrious and generous.

Then there's the nature issue. Both countries have a reputation for being very beautiful and well taken care of. And that's true too – Switzerland's alpine paradises and fecund valleys and Sweden's vast forests and refreshing archipelagos make up substantial parts of the nations' (self) image. No wonder then that people mix us up.

But as we scratch the surface we can see there are things that set the Swedish and the Swiss widely apart.

One distinct psychological phenomenon is a strong streak of exhibitionism in the Swiss. As I was leaving for home from Zürich recently after a week in the Basel region, the city was preparing for its annual Street Parade. It's a massive festival that has grown out of similar dance based events in Berlin and other places, often with almost a million people attending.

As I was exiting from the hotel on my way the Bahnhof around mid-day, thousands of people wallowed in the opposite direction. Day-glo bikinis (minimal), extravagant dresses (minimal), satirical frocks, zany wigs, jock straps, body painting (already smudged by sweat), bizarre shoes, etc. Elaborate make ups and styles in violent contrast to the normal and the everyday – a sense of freedom in being able to hide your own flaunting behind other people's flaunting. And the real, booming party was at the time still some four hours away... Meaning: no sound systems had even begun yet.

For some, perhaps a vision of hell (and yes, it was hot out too: 30° C). For some, perhaps a well needed release of pent up frustration. For some, just a great ecstatic event (yes, a chemical pun was indeed intended). Personally, literally going in the other direction, I found it very interesting. The Swiss, who usually flaunt in a reserved manner with elegant luxury goods (no bling, however), here put on a show that was decidedly more sexual and grimy. There was general havoc, unexpected pregnancies and venereal diseases in the air, so to speak.

"Freedom is above Silver and Gold." (the Basel Rathaus) A summing up of a philosophy relevant for Swedes and Swiss alike. However, it has been proven again and again that freedom can indeed become a commodity for neutral countries. There are probably no clearer examples of this than Sweden and Switzerland.

On this specific day, a multitude of young Swiss belongs to a homogeneous mass of heterogeneous expressions. If you belong to a specific minority here and want to flaunt that (as, for instance, in the now frequent Pride parades all over Europe), I'd say don't bother, because most seem to be narcissists anyway. The dress up game is very much about showing to yourself that you can flaunt your own style or kink. However, always in the safety of equally flaunting numbers.

Swedes don't function in that way. The growing Pride phenomenon on the contrary engenders a feeling of safety because it is a politically correct and officially sanctioned event. "It has been decided that..." If that weren't the case, the Swedish sense of temporary ecstatic joviality wouldn't be there at all and the phenomenon would be highly marginal and minimal.

Swedes are obedient and take great pride in that. It's a Lutheran heritage and one that secures efficiency and productivity. The Swiss are naughty (lots of smoking going on – also of tobacco, prostitution, pornography, heroin and related crimes beneath the alpine Private Banking-Heidi-Edelweiss-surface). This dark side of apparent paradise is most likely a result of Catholic dualism and a disproportionate sense of pleasure and indulgence in "sin" (because you can get away with it through "confession" to a supposed authority).

We should keep in mind also that the Swiss are essentially several cultures in one, mainly German and Latin. It would probably be prejudiced to begin characterizing which is which: orderly rational and passionately irrational. But the mix is undoubtedly interesting and has created a nation of great successes and an amazing creativity. The longevity of this being secured by a reserved sense of polite correctness and no compensatory "blinging".

A view from the main Goetheanum building, Dornach. Rudolf Steiner's spirit hovers over the alpine beauty.

The lady at the Gasthaus where I was staying earlier in the week, close to the impressive Rudolf Steiner-Goetheanum complex just outside Basel, spoke of Sweden as a dream-land for many Swiss and Germans. I replied that in Sweden this was mutual: Switzerland has a magical attraction for Swedes, and it doesn't only have to do with discrete bank accounts. There is definitely a sense of resonance in spirit between us and perhaps it's merely the stark difference in topography (geographical as well as emotional) that creates these mutual fantasies?

However, when I returned home to orderly and Lutheran Stockholm and went to sleep, it wasn't of the spiritually refined Goetheanum but of day-glo bikini-clad Catholic Heidis I dreamt. There is a sense of very poetic justice in that. The naughty Swiss won in the end!