著者

柳沢 伸司

出版者

日本マス・コミュニケーション学会

雑誌

新聞学評論 (ISSN:04886550)

巻号頁・発行日

no.37, pp.131-141, 316, 1988-04-30

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Sweden Passed the Freedom of the Press Act in 1766. It was decided that this Act should be a fundmental law of the constitutional state. This law (1)prohibited censorship, with the exception of theological publications, and (2)allowed free publication of official documents. This Act gave rise to open ,discussion in publications and pamphlets which was without precedent in Sweden. King Gustav III, however, seized power in 1772, and in the confusion of the "riksdag", he struck some sections off, especially the items providing public access to official documents. In 1812, the principles of the freedom of the press and public access to official documents were laid down in a new Freedom of the Press Act. Today in Sweden the freedom of the press is a fundamental right established by the Constitution. Sweden enacted the first Freedom of the Press Act in the world. This period from 1718 to 1772 is called the Age of Freedom (Frihetstiden). In the Age of Freedom the King's authority was restricted, consequently the "riksdag" had power. In this "riksdag" the reins of government were taken up between two political parties, the Hat party (Hattpartiet) and the Cap party (Mossapartiet). A number of people argued about the freedom of the press and censorship. Not only Anders Nordencrantz, who was an upholder of the Caps, but Nils Oelreich, who was the last censor and a supporter of the Hats, criticized the government for having censorship, and claimed the freedom of the press. Nordencrantz lived in England in his younger days and many of his ideas were influenced by contemporary English ideas. He was a representative in the burgher estate of the "riksdag". The Caps came to power in l765, and wanted to bar the censor. Anders Cydenius, the clergyman-riksdagsman, demanded freedom of the press. The Press Act of 1766 was more radical than most of the debaters had contemplated. In this paper I have summarized the history of Swedish journalism with regard to the legislative process of the Freedom of the Press Act which was promulgated in 1766.