Gunnar Myrdal: A Life of Many Dilemmas

This book offers a comprehensive exploration of Gunnar Myrdal's life, as well as his significant scientific, political and international contributions. Recognized as one of the foremost Stockholm economists, Myrdal, alongside Keynes, played a pivotal role in revolutionizing economic theory during the 1930s. Together with his wife, Alva Myrdal, he was instrumental in shaping the Swedish welfare state. Gunnar Myrdal was far ahead of his time in demonstrating that both a strong state and a vibrant civil society are essential for developing an inclusive welfare state.

Myrdal's influence extended well beyond Sweden. His groundbreaking analysis of racial oppression in the United States, particularly in his seminal work An American Dilemma, is widely regarded as a landmark in the struggle for equal rights. During the Cold War, he played a key role in the United Nations' efforts to rebuild Europe and sought to bridge the divide between East and West. His penetrating examination of the causes of underdevelopment in Asian Drama made a significant contribution to the understanding of prejudice and colonial oppression.

This book traces Gunnar Myrdal's journey from his childhood to the Nobel Memorial Prize, detailing his intense collaboration with Alva and her eventual professional independence. It compellingly illustrates how he, with clear-eyed pragmatism and a steadfast commitment to his values, addressed both Swedish and global social challenges. Remarkably, many of the issues Myrdal grappled with remain deeply relevant today, including the cracks in Sweden's welfare society, racism in the United States, the rise of authoritarian regimes, and the re-emergence of a new Cold War.

This book will particularly resonate with social scientists and general readers interested in the role of institutions in development, the motivations behind the inclusive welfare state, and the crucial importance of letting value premises guide research, policy solutions and actions on social issues, including identity, race, and power.