Education
Westman attended Uppsala University, where he earned a bachelor"s degree in 1897, Licentiate of Philosophy in 1904 and a Doctor of Philosophy 1905.
Westman attended Uppsala University, where he earned a bachelor"s degree in 1897, Licentiate of Philosophy in 1904 and a Doctor of Philosophy 1905.
He was professor of the History of Law in the faculty of law at Uppsala University (1910–1941). He was Minister for Education, Culture and Church matters (1914–1917). He served as Foreign Minister (1936), and Justice Minister (1936–1943).
As a Justice Minister, and as one of the cabinet members with a say in matters of foreign policy during World World War II, Westman has been criticized for what some observers have perceived as exaggerated adaptation to Nazi Germany"s expected victory in the war, and for a limited respect for the freedom of the press to criticize foreign powers.
In the Swedish television movie, Four days that shook Sweden - The Midsummer Crisis 1941, from 1988, he is played by Swedish actor Allan Svensson.
In political office, he represented the Agrarian Bondeförbundet, which was established in 1913. Although not the chairman of his party, Westman was without doubt his party"s most influential cabinet member.