London Socialist Historians Group
Seminar Mon 14th Feb 5.30pm Patrick Hegarty Morrish Inter-War Swedish Cycling & the socialist ethos
link to recording of the seminar
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/vVF2ShMkMl39zbg1aeaH2qd7Hf5xXTuvf7-SVSanw0vZo3w9cfRdeUdZyhU_HBfj.IgYp6SJmRgKC4M2Y (Passcode: e2e9h^sr)
I approach the subject from the angle of the history of sport, arguing that historians too often see practicing sport in this period from the top down, rather state orientated perspective of political ideology. Instead, I show that Swedish cyclists didn’t tend to cycle primarily in order to parade commitment to socialism but to see friends and family, explore the landscape, and explore abroad. I will explore a conclusion- how, although cyclists didn’t cycle simply because of adherence to socialist ideology, the Swedish cycling craze helped create an ethos of informality, inclusivity and egalitarianism among a younger generation of Swedes which could be seen as fundamental for the development of the social-democratic ethos that has characterised Sweden since.
I’m using new research – from newspapers, personal reminiscences and oral interviews – to show how cycling culture in interwar Sweden reveals the new practices of sociability that converged with, and served to support, the socialist ethos.
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