IntroductionThe official name of Sweden is the Kingdom of Sweden. (Country.eiu.com) Sweden is located in the northern part of Europe and is a Scandinavian country. It borders the countries of Norway and Finland. Denmark is also nearby. Sweden is also the third largest country, in terms of size, in the European Union. The capital and largest city is Stockholm. Sweden has been a constitutional monarchy since 1809 and this is still the current government. In 1921, universal suffrage was granted to everyone aged 18 and over in Sweden. It is home to "one of the most advanced welfare systems in the world", mainly due to the type of legislation passed in the "post-war period". (Country.eiu.com) This article will focus on the type of government that Sweden practices and the country operates today. Historical and cultural context Sweden's first inhabitants arrived sometime after the Ice Age. Around 8,000 BC, colder weather caused people to leave the region. Then, thousands of years later, humans returned to the earth. Extreme climate change is an important part of Swedish culture. Much of Sweden's history also comes from the Vikings, who played an important role in trade and trade routes. During the Thirty Years' War, Sweden's government bureaucracy and financial system expanded. Gustav Vasa was an important Swedish monarch who helped establish "the foundations of the Swedish nation-state in the early 16th century." (Geographia.com) Gustavus Adolphus was another important figure who helped Sweden achieve "great power status" and acquire many possessions. “One result of this experiment was a deep commitment to paper neutralization......Press, 2004. Massachusetts Institute of Technology “Sweden.” LonelyPlanet.com. Internet. November 27, 2013. “Sweden.” Wikipedia.org. Internet. November 27. 2013. < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden> “The Swedish banking market”. SwedishBankers.se. Internet. November 27, 2013. “The Swedish System of Government.” November 27, 2013. Sweden.se. Internet. November 27, 2013. “The World Factbook.” November 6, 2013. Cia.gov. Internet. November 27, 2013. World Nuclear News. “Sweden's second largest resources in the world. » August 23, 2012. World-nuclear-news.org. Internet. November 27 2013.