Sweden · 1969–76, 1982–86
Olof Palme
Social democratic internationalist. High taxes, active neutrality, a moral foreign policy.
Olof Palme is on the world-leaders chart for Sweden, 1969–76, 1982–86. The placement note, from the public governing record, is: Social democratic internationalist. High taxes, active neutrality, a moral foreign policy.
The dot is economics -48 and authority -16, on a scale from −100 to +100. That is left of center on economics. The other axis sits toward liberty. Left means a larger public role. Up means more authority. Neither direction is treated as the correct one.
A second note separates what was said in public from what the government then did. Said: Equality at home and a voice against both superpowers. Done: High taxes and an active neutrality. The solidarity rhetoric outran the country’s alliances. The gap, when there is one, is part of the placement. A promise that was kept and a promise that was dropped are not given the same weight.
The nearest other figures on these two numbers are Jacinda Ardern (New Zealand, -34 / -6) and Nelson Mandela (South Africa, -28 / -24). Nearest means nearest on the chart, not alike in character.
Two governments can share a number and share nothing else. The source is the public governing record, not a news write-up and not a campaign advertisement.