"Popular representation has a long history in Sweden. The Riksdag in Focus: Swedish History in a Parliamentary Perspective blends narration, pictures and facts in an easily accessible presentation, tracing the varied and dramatic development of the Swedish parliament from the early popular meetings during the Middle Ages. In the sixteenth century it evolved into an assembly of four Estates: the Nobility, the Clergy, the Burghers and the Peasantry. The decades around 1700 saw a period of absolute monarchy, which was replaced by parliamentary power during the Age of Liberty. In 1809 a constitutional monarchy replaced another period of royal power. Around the turn of the century 1900 there were inflamed conflicts and agitation for and against democracy and parliamentarism. Today Sweden has a unicameral parliament chosen by universal and equal suffrage."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved