Sweden & IKEA's Unhealthy Relationship

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Into Europe: IKEA is a Swedish company that has an image as a fun, carefree brand, and with its restaurants serving Swedish meatballs, its coffee, and cinnamon buns, it has exported Sweden.
So how did IKEA export Sweden?
Thank you for her help to:
Annelien for her explanation of IKEA's/Scandanavian design
Music:
Epidemic Sounds
Books used:
(Kristoffersson, 2014) Design by Ikea
(Torekull, 1999) Leading by Design: the Ikea Story
© All Rights Reserved.
Contact information:
Email: [e-mail]
Twitter: / europeinto
Patreon: / intoeurope

[@klas7988]

1: Ikea promotes social democrocy and swedishness 2: Ikea moves to the nethelands for tax reasons 3:Profit

[@gwho]

They should make it a build your own tax haven kit

[@PMMagro]

IKEA is not political. The founder was a nazi as young but did co-operate with DDR, communist Poland, Vietnam ec. in Saudi Arabia IKEA removed females from their catalouge pictures. It is just anything goes as long as it makes money. I am ok with it just understand what it is...

[@PMMagro]

IKEAS founder was a naziparty member teh secret police kept their eyes on . Also after WW2...

[@oltihajdaraj8682]

Taxes were a bit too crazy back then so I do understand them

[@alehaim]

The last time Sweden exported itself before Ikea, they got the Russians, Poles and Danes to work together :D

[@mefisto05s.20]

What do you mean?

[@archer_wsk1408]

@@mefisto05s.20 the polish-sewdish wars

[@Kromiball]

@@archer_wsk1408 sewdish sounds disgusting

[@Carewolf]

Ah yes, The Great Northern War. A huge success for Sweden, right up until it wasn't. Just like WW2 for Germany. They beat Denmark, they beat Russia, they beat Poland, then tried to invade Russia and died.

[@kornaros96]

To the skies see Carolus rise

[@Sams-fu1rd]

I live in Romania and my grandmothers village has been plagued by illegal logging since the past 20 years. Recently its gotten a little better, however much of the forest in the area is completely gone. There have been many landslides too which caused damage to some houses. Learning that this wood goes to Ikea has made me change my mind about the company.

[@Luredreier]

If they've bought wood from your specific area is a open question. But that they buy illegally cut wood at all is unacceptable...

[@termitedome]

Rumanian corruption

[@blixten2928]

Similar accusations in rain forests. IKEA is not a "clean" company; its practices can be pretty foul.

[@sandercohen5543]

I was alarmed upon hearing this, as i have a friend who is romanian, who has mentioned this as well, though i didnt know ikea was involved. To be honest tho, its likely the romanian government is more to blame for the lack of regulation, rather than various companies taking advantage of that. That's kinda the point of having governments poking their nose in private companies business in the first place, in a capitalistic society. If you don't have regulations, you get the USA XD

[@Luredreier]

@@sandercohen5543 True to some degree. But there's a number of reasons why that's not enough. Sometimes companies misbehave and there's no way for a country to do anything about it as a goverment. That's why we forced Wizz Air out of Norway through boycotts for instance... And the Danes managed to bring McDonalds ro heel with strikes, not laws.

[@albinjohnsson2511]

Meatballs and lingonberry jam should definitely not go be served with fries and broccoli. That plate looks so not Swedish and straight-up odd.

[@crashmatrix]

Yeah, but Ikea sells whatever sells, and that combination sells in the Netherlands.

[@andrelee7081]

Yh what the heck is that lol I live in the US and the meatballs come with jam and mashed potatoes

[@blixten2928]

IKEA food varies greatly from place to place. The quality is just awful in the one outside Pittsburgh, for instance. In Sweden itself, decent. But sad to think that most people outside the country believe IKEA food = Swedish food.

[@kmeanxneth]

as a finn that doesn't sound nothing new XD

[@normanclatcher]

Would still eat that before pickled herring.

[@neodym5809]

I went to many furniture stores. IKEA usually has the best price for value. If you want to have something better, prices quadruple. If you buy something for the same price at another store, it often lacks behind in quality. I don’t say ikea has any more moral than any other company. But it gives good value for money, and I have quiet some furniture from them lasting decades.

[@mortenlund1418]

I love Ikea

[@danielm9252]

@@mortenlund1418 Agreed. IKEA is the best.

[@TarikDaniel]

It only becomes an isse if you want to move. Try to disassemble their furniture once or twice and you will see what is left.

[@chestnut4860]

What about jysk?

[@mefisto05s.20]

I haven't had the same experience, it's cheap furniture and quality

[@Lemonz1989]

The thing about IKEA is that when I get an idea for some type of obscure type of furniture that would work in my apartment, IKEA seems to have it. I’ll be like “hmm, I wonder if someone makes [x] type of furniture” and it’s 90% of the time available in that exact (or really close to) format in IKEA, and not available in that type anywhere else in the country I live in.

[@Lintary]

Spend over 9 years working for them, a lot of that in product quality and safety, left as probably one the most knowledgeable persons on their product range. It is far from a perfect company and in my time it was clear they moved more and more towards profit focus over other things, but they also do try to do good things and while again far from perfect, they exceed most other companies. I liked their social stuff a lot to, mandating maximum working hours for all suppliers and more, when they introduced that some really big names stopped doing business with them as they didn't want to meet those requirements. In the end though a company is a company and they are driven to make profit and expand in as many places as they can. IKEA is one of the largest real estate owners around, from offices to hotels they own them all over the world. There is a lot more going on ofcourse, but I will leave it at this, but yeah if you ever want to do a research project on the true size, scope and influence of a company, IKEA makes for a quite interesting subject.

[@blixten2928]

Very interesting information!!

[@jonseilim4321]

We need to end this culture of fast furniture and fast fashion if we are to live sustainably

[@02Tony]

I sometimes stop over at my local Ikea to have lunch or snack foods since they are pretty cheap and taste so good. It is really good to have a series on local companies of Europe. A niche that is dominated by American companies.

[@terryyy1944]

I love the colors of Ikea's buildings and logo. It reminds me of the flag of a heroic nation.

[@Carewolf]

And IKEA furniture wasn't always crap. My parents still have IKEA furniture they bought in the 70s, it is solid wood, and lasts forever. IKEA only started using crap materials after they got big and popular.

[@blixten2928]

This is VERY true. Crappiness started invading big-time after 1990. Before then, the "Stockholm" series of glassware was startlingly beautiful and good quality, for instance (got it as a wedding present for my dad). Now, I avoid the place for kitchenware: just cheap, often ugly. Best storage furniture around, though. They kept some of the smart designers!

[@Someperson12532]

It's not bad, I have an ikea bed. Still not even slightly broken. it's not bad-you're just bad at building.

[@zedero8]

I swear IKEA meatballs are something else, they’re so good

[@kristofferhellstrom]

No! Make your own!! It's really easy and more tasty. That's how we Swedes make them. We don't go to Ikea to eat meatballs. Ghaaaaaaaaa!! :)

[@jari2018]

the they are the cheap copy of the orginal - they were better meatballs but now all use same formula basicilly even Eldorado

[@kristofferhellstrom]

@@jari2018 That's why we make our own meatballs in Sweden and don't go to Ikea to eat/buy them :)

[@SPL1NTER_SE]

Maybe it’s human meat. 👀

[@Dwg256]

64584

[@MrMighty147]

"For tax reasons" means "Because they don't want to pay taxes"

[@ozzyferzhh]

Or better, it doesn't want to pay taxes in Sweden... it's time the EU decides to have a standardised tax system, big European companies always do that and it's unfair. The Netherlands is still robbing money from other countries thanks to unfair competitiveness.

[@luisandrade2254]

Of course they don’t who wants to? You think there is ever going to be a time someone voluntarily pays more taxes then they have to? Not even leftists do that

[@luisandrade2254]

Of course they don’t who wants to? You think there is ever going to be a time someone voluntarily pays more taxes then they have to? Not even leftists do that

[@luisandrade2254]

@@ozzyferzhh the day the eu has a “standardized tax system” is the day the Union collapses. That’s what would be unfair

[@luisandrade2254]

@@ozzyferzhh tax competitiveness is not unfair and how the hell is not robbing people robbing them??????

[@butlazgazempropan-butan11k87]

I dont know why people say that ikea makes bad quality stuff. My family is buying futurniture for a ling time and we never threw out anything because it was broken

[@Dystopikachu]

I was born and raised in Sweden and I too believed all my life that Bolmen is a toilet brush...

[@Strawberry_champagne203]

💀

[@Detector1977]

Compared to other international corporations IKEA is a great company. It's WAY more relatable and has a less corporate atmosphere...

[@asillygoofygoober]

I don't really think so. It uses 1% of world's wood. But, if you don't wanna breathe, it's okay to like it Ig.

[@Detector1977]

@@asillygoofygoober It is STILL one of the best COMPARED to other corporations. Other multinational corporations from other countries are WAY WORSE as they care even less about the enviroment than IKEA does...

[@sayantanmazumdar3]

@@asillygoofygoober Compared to the dystopian retail nightmare that I experienced at Walmart, IKEA is way better.

[@ten_tego_teges]

Super interesting! Nice to see those kind of videos about companies that aren't from America or China :)

[@gustavjohansson8562]

Help. I’m being held hostage by IKEA

[@britishairways744]

at 0:38, Småland is not that big and that map includes the other state (landskap in swedish) Östgötaland.

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

Not only did it bring Swedish culture, but also stereotypes.

[@belstar1128]

Sweden does not have a culture.

[@morgunlenghiem1786]

how the hell did you came here, Mr. TommyKay subscriber

[@catalinvoineag6344]

I am Romanian and can confirm that Ikea is not very sustainable when it comes to sourcing its wood, it turns a blind eye to its suppliers. DW news made a very good investigation of this problem, it's called Wood Mafia Country. Good video tough

[@jebbo-c1l]

yea alot of sweden is like that, looks good on the surface but rotten underneath

[@mortenlund1418]

@@jebbo-c1l What ??? I am sorry to read what you think of Sweeden. Please point out some other system that is better? No one is perfect, but at least some could try just a little more.

[@clauspatzer9705]

The whole concept of Ikea goes against sustainability. Cheap furniture and mediocre quality promotes a culture of buying and throwing away. Good quality furniture can easily last the buyer's lifetime and even beyond. We should try and premote that kind of living

[@cia5649]

@@user-xr5up3ed3z i mean i dont understand why u lie on a yt comment

[@blixten2928]

@@mortenlund1418 Glad to have a patriot here, but Sweden right now is (I agree) in somewhat of a mess. The right and the racist far-right rule in informal coalition; the state-owned lumber company is cutting down vast swathes of wood in the name of "biofuel"; Swedish MEPs, from being somewhat of a leader in EU on the Green Deal, are now told to vote against numbers of environmental measures the former government improved. We have one of the greatest income gaps (super-rich vs. average people) in Europe. The welfare system, like the school system and like mass transport, has been largely sold off to private interests. So although I love Sweden dearly, I find some things that do need to be turned around soon... We are the ones who should try a little more, perhaps.

[@hydroaegis6658]

No company grows that big by being "nice"

[@andreasnilsson4496]

Criticizing IKEA in Sweden is like killing a cow in India.

[@MoonBlade751]

Imagine going to swedes home and every furniture is from IKEA

[@blixten2928]

Actually, it is. All first-time apartments are full of IKEA. Resold on our equivalent of Craig's List ("Blocket") under the IKEA name, proudly, as people move up the social scale.

[@kmeanxneth]

@@blixten2928 same in Finland, it just the norm

[@MarS-fb8tn]

I Don't think ikea furniture is fast . I have got a bookshelf for over 15 years and counting. In terms of function I never faced an issue with it. One can also maintain and customize furniture. I also have other ikea items that I have been using for years and years. To me that is the measure of quality.

[@nasb2218]

Can you so an episode at the french luxury industry and its suspicious activity. PLEASE

[@bp9696]

1:30 min ad in a 9 min video. rip

[@Detector1977]

My grandma grew up in the same village as Kamprad and my mom was born in Almhult....

[@AnDyAndrei1]

Wait hold on… Romanian Slovakia?🤔🤔🤔

[@danielblackburn4626]

Proudly I own nothing from IKEA. Never been in the store & have passed it hundreds of times. Haha

[@WilliamWiltraut]

Hello from Sweden. You spelled “Scandinavian” wrong.

[@sayantanmazumdar3]

These Right-wing western commentators declare themselves as a sweden expert without ever living and working in Sweden.

[@vinniechan]

since you bring up the topic I wonder if you thought looking into where IKEA source their meat for their meatballs

[@AlexB-pp5bg]

Nice that you now have a sponser, well earned! But that transition was the worst I've ever seen xD Right from interesting video af, to BUT STOP THIS IS OUR SPONSOR!

[@Dennan]

ey dont be mean to ikea, ikea is sweden, sweden is ikea

[@awddfg]

Don't really blame ikea from removing women in saudi ads lmao, I don't know why anyone would have a problem with it

[@tyrnei6877]

Keep up the good work!

[@linusjklett]

Great video 🇪🇺

[@Robin-xf8zb]

I think some relevant information have been left out in this video. I'd recommend Our Changing Climate's video about IKEA as well as Polymatter's video about how IKEA became Sweden's national brand to get the whole picture. Our Changing Climate: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYbTYYp-g72Cr9E PolyMatter: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3Klopl6fseLias

[@johnwicked1132]

Why? Exactly?

[@Rotwold]

Because the video doesn't state why Sweden has an unhealthy relationship with IKEA, more so why people like it and why global brands can be harmful. The title is somehow completely detached from the content of the video, and anything that cover how people see IKEA seems to be how it is viewed outside of Sweden. My experience is that Kamprad is viewed as a great entrepreneur but also someone that avoid taxes and that he had nazi sympathies (like many other in Sweden during 1930-40's). The title sound like IKEA is damaging to Sweden, but the video is more about how a global corporation try to ignore any criticism and not pay taxes. I'm not hating on the video and its content but the title is misleading.

[@give_me_my_nick_back]

well 2 years back when they used to sell hot dogs for 20 cents each it was no surprise people were going just to get 6-8 hot dogs (well they are on hte small side) even more so as our campus is next to ikea :D

[@oreinsof7412]

How did you fail to mention SCP-3008: The Infinite Ikea? The company could be involved in that one too.

[@gwho]

Wtf is that. If you're going to mention it maybe you should also explain it?

[@VEVOJavier]

Shut up

[@MetDaan2912]

I don’t understand this title? Where does it come from? You say almost nothing on Sweden’s relationship with IKEA, so why is it unhealthy?

[@touyats1]

Oh, this must have been fascist Into Europe's sovranist video about IKEA to mess with people's intentions of voting in the last Swedish elections, I guess.

[@crabobserver]

0:35 ouch... im not realy a fan of your pronounciation of that name, it sounds like an american doing a bad german accent.

[@ngocgiabaophan3704]

Keep up the good work! I just subscribed

[@IntoEurope]

Thank you! Welcome aboard :)

[@Sergio_Loureiro]

8:38 Are the meatballs made of sawdust? (sciure)

[@elfulano5884]

Their meatballs are always served cold.

[@baronvonjo1929]

I was so excited to see Ikea earlier this year. They really don't try to expand or do anything in the US. They are barely anywhere. In 21 years of living of living. I have only ever been in and seen one.

[@clintit1]

There aren’t many, we have one in Charlotte though. My mind was honestly blown walking through that massive store.

[@mhdibm7515]

I love sweden

[@mortenlund1418]

Me too.

[@Duck-wc9de]

And IKEA profits from the love people have for northern europe

[@mortenlund1418]

@@Duck-wc9de I think IKEA profits from an educated truely free and "equal" population, who brillinatly engineer both beautiful and functional furniture with raw-materials right outside the door. That it is payable too is what makes IKEA go global.

[@johnwt7333]

The first time I went to an ikea I got lost for more than an hour. I kept walking past the same sign that said "exit" with no exit on sight. Used my GPS to orient myself but to no avail. Finally I could find an ikea employee by looking interested at the merchandise and asked him where the exit was. Turns out the exit was following a small set of stairs hidden behind some furniture. Never again.

[@mauritsbol4806]

I didn't know ikea was technically dutch. Lets change its colours into red white and blue, and sell stroopwafels everywhere.

[@Wextraa]

>Småland >Includes Östergötland

[@razvantir]

“here in Romanian Slovakia” I’m not sure what country you are reffering to..

[@mortenlund1418]

Greeting to Romania from Denmark. Best wishes. Also to Slovakia.

[@ouicertes9764]

maybe if you listened better you would have heard "romania AND slovakia"

[@Angelica-by2hg]

I swear i have bought more than expected every. single. time.

[@simonmanns430]

Wow, now Östergötland is part of Småland. I think you need to check your geography skills on reading maps (:.

[@user-bu5qn7oe4w]

As always great job

[@jensaukema732]

Weer top gedaan! Op naar de 100k! 😝

[@comradeblin256]

Jokes on you, i plan to buy NOTHING and planned to just see the designs while enjoy the foods there. I failed to fulfill all my wishes becoz the ice cream place just too crowded and we must go home :/ So, i only buy like 70% of what i planned

[@metal87power]

Swedish flood like in 17 century.

[@levi8676]

Wtf is that pronounciation of Kamprad? If you can't pronounce it in swedish then just say it normally in english. Now you just made a weird throat sound that sounds like neither

[@billywiththebulgingbaloonb5105]

Dear god, what a passive aggressive video. The jealousy the West has towards Sweden industry and.military industry is embarrassing.

[@sayantanmazumdar3]

Correction: Western right-wingers.

[@jasxx1108]

IKEA meatballs are nice 👍

[@jonathanodude6660]

what about that relationship was unhealthy?

[@billywiththebulgingbaloonb5105]

The fact that America isn't making money of it.

[@monkeeseemonkeedoo3745]

It was about the meatballs all along

[@Walker956]

You pronouced ingvars name wrong and also småland.

[@foxtrap2504]

Let's go Hugo!

[@belgiumbunlover5787]

IKEA promotes a view of itself as progressive, climate-friendly and accepting, while actually being deeply nationalist, abusing human and material resources from poorer countries and more than happy to throw oppressed people aside whenever convenient. In other words, they are a pitch-perfect representation of modern Swedish culture.

[@gwho]

No that's Marxist garbage. When you trade with poorer countries they get richer. Try again. You'll only convince equally dumb Marxist brainwashed people with that flimsy accusation. Youre just as "bad" as Sweden. When you don't need car repair, you "toss aside" your mechanic. Same for when you don't want fries, you "toss aside" small mom and pop restaurants. Same for literally every good and service you purchase. Given this, your comment is also pretty prejudiced against Sweden. Not much better than what you're accusing them of.

[@happyswedme]

Louder, so the fax can be heard by us too

[@sethivaltas619]

Isn’t this just every big company though?

[@gustafdahlman8704]

Alot of jealous people in the comments, you all need to swede up.

[@vladanlausevic1733]

"Swedish values" is an arbitrary and mythological term. It is often used either by the far-right or by those who belive that such values are about socialism or conformity

[@JackDSquat]

But ever country does have a culture with a certain set of values, to deny that would be silly. It is obvious that Japan, the U.S. and Russia all have different things that the culture view as important when it comes to societal organization, art, economics, and politics. Im not exactly sure what Sweden’s cultural values are but the country does have some

[@vladanlausevic1733]

@@JackDSquat It does not work like that. In every country, there are values that are more present, dominating, and represented. However, that does not mean that everyone in that country follows such values. Not everyone in Sweden is liberal nor progressive. Trump voters who attacked The Capitol are Americans despite their values.

[@vladanlausevic1733]

@@JackDSquat There are also differences within countries, take for example California and Texas.

[@cinghialandri]

interesting video!

[@Duck-wc9de]

You go to IKEA for the experience I go to IKEA becaue it has a low price for medium quality

[@jtgd]

Should be labeled an Out of Europe special

[@alexandrepereira3902]

It is funny … the whole thing is funny

[@mocha_bear00]

Loved it

[@Carewolf]

Another thing IKEA invented: Scandinavian Design. There is NO such thing. There is Danish Design and the designs from other Nordic countries but they are not a singular movement. Scandinavian Design is Swedish furniture trying to ride the coattails of the successful Danish Design movement, rebranding it to include their own products.

[@nobodysanything2330]

🇸🇪

[@DragonsFan.]

IKEA is destroying enchanting forest landscape of Sweden.

[@Ngocoanho-vl3eo]

Scp 3008

[@ShienChannel]

Ikea, due to being swedish is just amazing. As swedish girls x)

[@mortenlund1418]

:)

[@johnwicked1132]

What was that comment about sWeDiSh girls?

[@ShienChannel]

I just love them. Blue eyes, blondie, tall, smart, schooled, cute, sweet.

[@filipzoomster6958]

Rubbish. For masses.

[@johnwicked1132]

ikr, i can't believe that the US even allowed such a blatant commie plant past our borders, it's embarassing really. I mean they claim they're "Pro democracy" but it's essentially fascism

[@dethmin173]

cool

[@oskarsundkvist7949]

you know that in the 5 of september 1970 theare Kungens kurva store bursted in to flames due to one of theare signs.

[@barmybarmecide5390]

Man fuck IKEA

[@mortenlund1418]

Why??? What??? Are you living in civilized Europe? If yes, do you know why you have democracy, a filled stomac and education for free? Further, if you want, you can move forward during effort. You can give your relatives a better future. Or would you rather live in the third world? Here they burn down the city every couple of years - just to be sure to stay poor. Companies like Ikea is what gives Europe some kind of income. Please consider the value of great companies and what they mean for civilization.

[@barmybarmecide5390]

@@mortenlund1418 🤏

[@ver939]

Hi

[@chestnut4860]

7:21 It took 7 out of 9 min to get to actual modern ikea problems.

[@gwho]

0:43 we have millions and millions of communist sympathizers today, who are very open about it, so being a Nazi sympathizer should be judged proportionally to this.

[@mortenlund1418]

Thank you for sharing this video. It is great to see your European stuff and I hope you will somehow turn your left-wing stuff off. If Europe is going to have any place on Earth in the future, we must celebrate our successes - wich is, you guessed it, our great companies who turn raw material into profit during ingenuity, hard work and brilliancy. Let us be sure we have something to sell to the rest of the world or we will end up like all the poor socialist states who makes sure only the political elite has all the benefits - until it all slides. Like Leonid Brezhnev who lived splendid and just after his dead, of old age, it all fell apart. Believe me, he knew what was comming.

[@RexGalilae]

This might be a bit unpopular but even the meatballs are mid, imo At least to anyone who has eaten turkish döner kebabs and koftes that the meatballs were inspired from

[@dirkgonthier101]

How can it export Sweden, when all they sell is made in cheap labour countries and nothing is made in Sweden?

[@belstar1128]

Sweden does not have a culture anyway.

[@Bluepeter62]

Check your facts before you accuse. About a third of IKEA production is still made in Sweden. Design and quality standards are still 100% swedish. IKEA has ceased all business in russia, yet is still paying all the employees.

[@dirkgonthier101]

@@Bluepeter62 Well, I doubt it very much that one of IKEA's furniture is still made in Sweden. Ther price against which it's been sold, makes it almost impossible. Sure, IKEA sells also posters from a.o. Jonna Jinton. I have no problems in believing that they're made in Sweden. That the design and quality standards are still Swedish, I'm ready to believe. Although, IKEA sells a lot of items which remain sub-standard on the quality field. This could be justified by the price they ask for it. I always thought that the Nordic countries and Germany had more or less the same policy towards quality. Apparently not. That IKEA has ceased business in Russia, has nothing to do with the matter at hand. I still say that IKEA sells mostly products made in cheap labour countries.

[@nescius2]

8:40 - the meatballs? that horse meatballs?

[@kristofferhellstrom]

We love horse meat here in Sweden. Makes the most delicious meatballs.

[@nescius2]

@@kristofferhellstrom you can order horse meat sushi in Japan (or whale... for research purposes), but its presented as horse meat (or as research with rice ;), that's the most important difference for me :)

[@kristofferhellstrom]

@@nescius2 Oooh damn. I was only joking.

[@nescius2]

you can start joking again after you *return Codex gigas*

[@kristofferhellstrom]

@@nescius2 No. That's how we became a secular country. We'll never give it back.

[@TheHollandHS]

Swedish culture is my opinion not Scandinavian. Nor viking unlike the Danes Icelanders and Norwegians Swedish culture is Baltic along with its long eastern territory of Finland . And Germany is in fact culturally Baltic too. Sweden has influenced German culture throughout the Prussian way. Prussia is very important to German mainstream culture and values. My theory is that millitarism and it's post trauma connects Swedish culture and German culture, in fact along with the Baltic states who are mostly long been ruled under germans and swedes . In fact all these countries if you emphasize Germany on Prussia, they ruled most of the Baltic waves. (with gdansk and st Petersburg as part of the slavic world.) what they have in common is theur cultural norms are Rational, self disciplined but rather more collectivist and Conforming.

[@pittan86]

va?

[@shitbraker]

Very interesting, I too have noticed similarities between the Prussian militarism and the Swedish militarism of the 1600's.

[@Kamane-bee]

Excuse me, but when did Sweden ruled Lithuania (which is a Baltic country)?

[@TheHollandHS]

@@Kamane-bee Lithuania is indeed a bit different from Latvia and Estonia because of its close historical relationship with Poland. But in comparison to Poland Lithuania has been influenced by Protestant belief and German nobles, also sharing a border with Prussian territories close to Konigsberg. Poland only had a tiny bit of sea and one coastal harbor Gdansk in history until 1945.

[@poopabjorn]

lol vad snackar du om danskar svenskar och norrmän samt islänningar är otroligt lika i sättet förutom att danskarna är mer perversa och norrmännen mer religösa

[@horrifyinggelatinousblob]

The only good thing that came out of Sweden is Gothenburg style Death metal, that's literally it.

[@kornaros96]

Falun power metal