Will Swedish and Dutch drug policy converge? The role of theory

Sweden and The Netherlands are often referred to as the archetypes of prohibition and harm reduction, respectively. Both nations have, however, recently adopted political measures that fit well in the other country's model. But they have also taken steps that reflect traditional thinking. Are we witnessing the initial stages of convergence or are recent developments better interpreted as adjustments? This article addresses these questions by comparing Swedish and Dutch theoretical understandings of ‘the drug problem’. Goals and practices are illuminated in the context of underlying theory, raising the question: Can substantial convergence be achieved without significant prior changes in theoretical perceptions? It is found that the theoretical understandings of the two paradigms do not mix easily, complicating attempts at convergence. Moreover, both countries have invested a great deal of political prestige in their respective models, further exacerbating the problem. A conceivable way to circumvent these difficulties is suggested.