TIME: Almanac 1995

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<text id=93CT1676> <title> Denmark--History </title> <history> Compact ALMANAC--CIA Factbook Europe Denmark </history> <article> <source>CIA World Factbook</source> <hdr> History </hdr> <body> The Danes, a homogenous Gothic-Germanic people, have inhabited Denmark since prehistoric times. Danish is the principal language. A small German-speaking minority lives in southern Jutland; a mixed Inuit-Danish population inhabits Greenland; and the Faroe Islands have a Nordic population with its own language. Education is compulsory from ages 7 to 16 and is free through the university level. The Evangelical Lutheran Church is state supported and accounts for about 97% of Denmark's religious affiliation. Denmark has religious freedom, however, and several other Protestant denominations and other religions exist. During the Viking period (9th-11th centuries), Denmark was a great power based on the Jutland Peninsula, the Island of Zealand, and the southern part of what is now Sweden. In the early 11th century, King Canute united Denmark and England for almost 30 years. Vikings raids brought Denmark into contact with Christianity, and in the 12th century, crown and church influence increased. By the late 13th century, royal power had waned, and the nobility forced the king to grant a charter, considered Denmark's first constitution. Although the struggle between crown and nobility continued into the 14th century, Queen Margrethe I succeeded in uniting Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, and Greenland under the Danish crown. Sweden and Finland left the union in 1520; however, Norway remained until 1814. Iceland, in a "personal union" under the king of Denmark after 1918, became independent in 1944. The Reformation was introduced in Denmark in 1536. Denmark's provinces in today's southwestern Sweden were lost in 1658, and Norway was transferred from the Danish to the Swedish crown in 1814, following the defeat of Napoleon, with whom Denmark allied. The Danish liberal movement gained momentum in the 1830s,and in 1849 Denmark became a constitutional monarchy. After the war with Prussia and Austria in 1864, Denmark forced to cede Schleswig-Holstein to Prussia and adopt a policy of neutrality. Toward the end of the 19th century, Denmark inaugurated important social and labor market reforms, laying the basis for the present welfare state. Denmark remained neutral during World War I. Despite its declaration of neutrality at the beginning of World War II, it was invaded by the Germans in 1940 and occupied until it was liberated by the Allied forces in May 1945. Denmark became a charter member of the United Nations and was one of the original signers of the North Atlantic Treaty. Cultural Achievements Denmark's rich intellectual heritage contributes to the cultural achievements of the modern world. The astronomical discoveries of Tycho Brahe (1546-1601) and the brilliant contributions to atomic physics of Niels Bohr (1885-1962) indicate the range of Danish scientific achievement. The fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen (1805-75), the philosophical essays of Soren Kierkegaard (1813-55), and the short stories of Karen Blixen (penname Isak Dinesen, 1885-1962) have earned international recognition, as have the symphonies of Carl Nielsen (1865-1931). Danish applied art and industrial design have won awards for excellence. The name of Georg Jensen (1866-1935) is known worldwide for outstanding modern design in silver, and "Royal Copenhagen" is among the finest porcelains. Visitors to Denmark will discover a wealth of cultural activity. The Royal Danish Ballet, an exceptional company, specializes in the work of the great Danish choreographer August Bournonville (1805-79). Danes have distinguished themselves as jazz musicians, and the Copenhagen Jazz Festival has acquired an international reputation. International collections of modern art enjoy unusually attractive settings at the Louisiana Museum north of Copenhagen and at the North Jutland Art Museum in Aalborg. The State Museum of Art and the Glyptotek, both in Copenhagen, contain treasures of Danish and international art. The Museum of Applied Art and Industrial Design in Copenhagen exhibits the best in Danish design. The Royal Danish Porcelain Factory and Bing & Grondahl, renowned for the quality of their porcelain and ceramics, export their products worldwide. Ceramic designs by Bjorn Wiinblad also are well known and popular. Among today's Danish writers, probably the most prolific is Klaus Rifbjerg-poet, novelist, playwright, and screenwriter. Benny Andersen writes poems, short stories, and music. Poems by both writers have been translated into English by the Curbstone Press. Kirsten Thorup's Baby, winner of the 1980 Pegasus Prize, is printed in English by the University of Louisiana Press. The psychological thrillers of Anders Bodelsen also appear in English. Suzanne Brogger and Vita Andersen focus largely on the changing roles of women in society. In music, Hans Abrahamsen and Per Norgaard are the two most famous living composers. Hans Abrahamsen's works have been performed by the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, DC. Cultural Policy The Ministry of Cultural Affairs was created in 1961. Cultural life and meaningful leisure time were then and remain subjects of debate by politicians and parliament as well as the general public. The democratization of cultural life promoted by the government's 1960s cultural policy recently has come to terms with the older "genteel culture;" broader concepts of culture now generally accepted include amateur and professional cultural, media, sports, and leisure-time activities. Denmark's cultural policy is characterized by decentralized funding, program responsibility, and institutions. Danish cultural direction differs from other countries with a Ministry of Culture and a stated policy in that special laws govern each cultural field-e.g., the New Theater Act of 1970 and the Music Law of 1976. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs includes among its responsibilities international cultural relations; training of librarians and architects; copyright legislation; and subsidies to archives, libraries, museums, literature, music, arts and crafts, theater, and film production. During 1970-82, the ministry also recognized protest movements and street manifestations as cultural events, because social change was viewed as an important goal of Danish cultural policy. However, the current government exercises caution in moderating this policy and practice. In June 1988, radio and broadcasting, formerly under the Ministry of Culture, was transferred to the Ministry of Transportation and Communication. Government contributions to culture have increased steadily in recent years, but viewed against the present government's firm objective to limit public expenditures, contributions will stabilize in the future. Municipal and county governments assume a relatively large share of the costs for cultural activities in their respective districts. In 1987, government expenditures for culture reached about $265 million, or about $52 per capita. Most support went to libraries and archives, theater, museums, arts and crafts training, and films. Political Conditions Political life in Denmark is orderly and democratic. Political changes occur gradually through a process of consensus, and political methods and attitudes are generally moderate. The Social Democratic Party, Denmark's largest and closely identified with large well-organized labor movement, has held power either alone or in coalition for most of the postwar period. A coalition of the Social Democratic and three other centrist parties broke down in the fall of 1981 because of the parties' inability to decide on an economic program. Despite electoral losses, the Social Democrats formed a single-party minority government after December 1981 elections. Unable to pass austerity measures aimed at alleviating the seriously deteriorating economy, the government chose to resign in September 1982. Its successor was composed of four center-right parties-Conservative, Liberal, Center Democratic, and Christian People's that controlled only 78 of the 179 seats in the Folketing. This coalition of parties retained power in the January 1984 and September 1987 elections. Snap elections called in May 1988 brought a nonsocialist minority coalition government to power. The current government is composed of three parties: Conservative, Liberal, and Radical Liberal. This coalition represents a minority of 67 seats in the 179-seat parliament, but it can count on support on most issues from the Center Democratic, Christian People's, and the Progress Parties, which have a total of 29 seats, plus three North Atlantic members. The successive minority governments under the current prime minister have been successful in passing their economic programs through the Folketing. However, with 55 seats, the Social Democrats play a powerful braking role on both the domestic and international agendas of the Schlueter government. The coalition remains dependent on whether the prime minister's rivals wish to mount a challenge or remain content to wait for the next elections, due in 1992. Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Public Affairs, June 1990. </body> </article> </text>