Branting, Karl Hjalmar, << YAHL mahr, >> (1860-1925), a leading Swedish socialist and pacifist, was awarded the Nobel Prize for peace in 1921 for promoting social reform in Sweden and for his activities in the League of Nations, an international association that promoted world peace (see League of Nations ). Branting believed that disputes between countries were better resolved through discussion with a third party acting as judge, rather than through war.
Branting was born in Stockholm, Sweden. He studied at Uppsala University for five years, concentrating on mathematics and astronomy before becoming an assistant to the director of the Stockholm Astronomical Society in 1882. In 1883, Branting traveled around Europe attending lectures and developing his own theories in discussion both with social philosophers and ordinary working people.
Branting worked for socialist newspapers and played a large part in the founding of the Swedish Social Democratic Labor Party in 1889. In 1896, he became the first Social Democrat to be elected to the lower chamber of Sweden’s parliament, the Riksdag. He remained the only Social Democrat member for several years, fighting for workers’ rights and universal suffrage (right to vote). In 1905, Branting supported a peaceful settlement with Norway when Norway withdrew from union with Sweden (see Norway (Independence) ). The Swedish Social Democratic Labor Party finally came to power in Sweden in 1920 with Branting as prime minister. He served as prime minister twice more, from 1921 to 1923 and again in 1924 and 1925.
Branting was a supporter of Swedish neutrality in World War I (1914-1918). In 1919, he was Sweden’s representative at the Paris Peace Conference to draft the Treaty of Versailles at the end of the war. At this conference, he called on all countries to adopt the Covenant of the League of Nations. Branting brought Sweden into the League in 1923, became Sweden’s first delegate to the organization, and was appointed to its council. While serving at the League, he was involved in work on disarmament and in drafting the Geneva Protocol, a system of international security that proposed that disputes between nations be judged by one or more impartial persons whose decision should be binding.
