L. Sadova. The abolition of the “Customs Convention” (Mellomrikslov) in 1895: the perception of contemporaries and the impact on the Swedish-Norwegian union // Petersburg historical journal, no. 1, 2023, pp. 115–127

Abstract:
The article examines the question of the degree of influence of the abolition of the “Customs Convention” in 1895 on Swedish-Norwegian relations, as well as the degree of involvement of economic issues in the political struggle between the two countries. The main objective of the study is to try to answer the question — whether the termination of the convention was a political action or had economic expediency. The reports of Russian diplomatic representatives in Sweden-Norway in the 1890s from the Archive of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Empire were used as the main sources. Norwegian historiography does not express an unambiguous opinion on this issue. The Convention was cancelled unilaterally by the Swedish Riksdag in 1895 against the background of the crisis situation in Swedish-Norwegian relations and this act was actively used as a political lever in the confrontation between Sweden and Norway. In general, we can say that the economic background of the termination of the agreement was lost in an emotional storm and acquired a political sound, intertwining in this regard into various controversial issues of Swedish-Norwegian relations.

Keywords:
Swedish-Norwegian Union, Mellomrikslov, economic and trade relations between Norway and Sweden in 1890s, customs tariffs.

Author:
Sadova, L. — Junior research fellow, Institute of World History, Russian Academy of Sciences.
E-mail: taidula@mail.ru

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