The Radical Right in Sweden

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: Relevance of the topic and purpose of the paper

1.1 The current state of research

1.1.1 The theory

1.1.2 State of research on Sweden and Scandinavia

1.2 Terms and definitions

2. The actors and their relevance in this paper

3. Analytical Model: Why and how the Radical Right exists?

3.1 Concept on RR’s organizational manifestation (Minkenberg)

3.2 Second model: Rydgren’s approach

3.3 The Synthesis

4. Analysis of the case

4.1 Historical tradition and political culture

4.2 Conflict patterns

4.3 Presence or absence of societal strains

4.4 Availability of a potent master frame

4.5 Agenda setting ability, politicization of new issues, elite allies, access to mass media

4.6 State’s capacity and propensity for repression

4.7 Degree of convergence in political space

4.8 Relative openness or closure of the institutionalized political system

5. Conclusion

Objectives and Research Focus

This paper aims to bridge the research gap regarding the Radical Right in Sweden by combining party research and social movement research to explain the bipolarity between a weak party-level presence and a vital movement-level existence.

• Analysis of the Swedish Radical Right's organizational strength below the party level.
• Examination of the reasons for the failure of Radical Right parties to establish themselves at the national level.
• Comparison of Sweden's unique historical context with its Scandinavian neighbors.
• Application of the Minkenberg and Rydgren theoretical models to the Swedish case.
• Investigation of the impact of political opportunity structures and framing on Radical Right performance.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

1. Introduction: Relevance of the topic and purpose of the paper: Outlines the research gap regarding the Radical Right in Sweden and establishes the aim of combining party and social movement research.

2. The actors and their relevance in this paper: Identifies and categorizes key Radical Right organizations, focusing on qualitative measures of "strength" like internal structure and networking.

3. Analytical Model: Why and how the Radical Right exists?: Introduces the theoretical framework by synthesizing the models of Minkenberg and Rydgren to explain Radical Right success or failure.

4. Analysis of the case: Provides a comprehensive empirical test of the defined analytical variables, including historical background and organizational performance.

5. Conclusion: Summarizes findings on the bipolarity of the Swedish Radical Right and reflects on the potential for future electoral changes.

Keywords

Radical Right, Sweden, Social Movement Research, Party Research, Political Opportunity Structures, Master Frame, Extreme Right, Political Culture, Electoral Marginalization, Ny Demokrati, Sweden Democrats, Cordon Sanitaire, Historical Tradition, Mobilization, Populism

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the central focus of this research?

The paper examines the Radical Right in Sweden, specifically why it remains strong at the movement and network level while failing to establish a permanent, successful party in the national parliament.

What primary theoretical models are employed?

The research utilizes the analytical frameworks developed by Michael Minkenberg and Jens Rydgren, focusing on political opportunity structures and the diffusion of master frames.

How is "strength" defined in this context?

Strength is defined qualitatively rather than quantitatively, encompassing the internal organizational structure, external networking, ideological input, and overall action potential of the groups.

What is the significance of the "old Right" versus "new Right" distinction?

This dichotomy helps categorize Swedish actors based on their ideological origins and strategies, with the "old Right" often linked to historical national socialism and the "new Right" focusing on more modern populist and ethno-nationalist rhetoric.

How does Sweden differ from its Scandinavian neighbors regarding the Radical Right?

Unlike Denmark and Norway, which experienced earlier and more sustained electoral success for Radical Right populist parties, Sweden remained a "negative case" for decades, characterized by the absence of an established national Radical Right party.

What role does the "cordon sanitaire" play?

The cordon sanitaire refers to the informal consensus among political and media elites to isolate and stigmatize Radical Right organizations, which the author identifies as a key factor in preventing these groups from gaining national political influence.

Why did New Democracy (NyD) fail after its initial success?

NyD failed due to internal leadership disputes, a lack of clear roots in a Radical Right tradition, and its inability to sustain voter support after its short parliamentary guest appearance in the early 1990s.

Is the Sweden Democrats' (SD) recent growth a sign of long-term success?

While the SD has shown increased electoral results and a modernization of its strategy and rhetoric, the author notes that it is still in a process of attempting to cultivate a sufficiently potent master frame to enter parliament securely.