Islamist and Far-Right Elements in Sweden’s New Government
Author: Evin Ismail — PhD in Sociology from Uppsala University and a researcher on Islamist extremism
Sweden is witnessing major political changes, with the centre-left bloc losing its majority and a new right-liberal bloc, with the support of the populist Sweden Democrats party now in government. For the first time, the Sweden Democrats became the second-biggest party in Sweden. Meanwhile, the Nyans party (Nuance party), a party with Islamist ties, has gained a few seats in Swedish municipalities. Both these trends are rather new to Sweden; however, the growing popularity of both parties can be understood as the consequence of the same social problems plaguing the country: ethnic segregation, gang criminality, and growing inequalities. Gun crimes in Sweden are increasing at a faster rate than anywhere else in Europe, with 47 people having died in shootings this year so far. Whereas the Sweden Democrats have spoken against immigration in their political messaging, Nyans are known for wanting to fight discrimination and ethnic segregation in the outskirts of the three major cities of the country where most shootings take place.
Although ethnic segregation and social alienation have been a reality in Sweden since the 1990s, it was exacerbated by the centre-left government’s reaction to the 2015 refugee crisis: at first, it decided to open the borders, and when it realised there was no infrastructure and housing for all refugees, they closed the borders. This made them look irresponsible in the eyes of many Swedes, especially ethnic Swedes who feared that migration might affect them negatively. Here, it is important to note that immigrants also voted for the Sweden Democrats, and Nyans have ethnic Swedes on their governing board.
The impact of the Nyans party will most likely be minimal. Since they only received a few seats in different municipalities, they will have no majority to implement their political goals in the next elections, despite potentially growing in popularity based on their current political trajectory. There is also a risk that they will radicalise and further segregate already segregated immigrant communities. A recent investigation for instance showed that many Nyans candidates have been spreading violent antisemitic and anti-Shia propaganda. However, it is important to note that the propaganda had a breadth that included both Sunni and Shia Islamist groups.
The Sweden Democrats, on the other hand, have their roots in the Nazi movement; today, the party expels people with those sympathies whenever journalists reveal such extremist thinking. This practice also helps these parties grow in popularity, as shedding ultra-extremist candidates and individuals within their ranks increases their acceptance amongst other segments of the population. Hence, it can be expected that both parties will grow, resulting in further polarisation and divisions within Swedish society. The Sweden Democrats are now a supporting party for the new government, and they have seen already many of their anti-immigrant policies implemented by the new government. Moreover, there is a risk of increased far-right violence against minorities in Sweden — in line with growing far-right movements in Europe and the US.
Most importantly, the question of how to diminish the influence of these parties remains. The rise of the Nyans party and the Sweden Democrats is mainly ideological: there are people in the country who sympathise with their main ideas. However, it can also be understood as the result of the failure of the Social Democrats and the other established parties to offer a compelling vision of the future.
The social problems that Sweden faced were not dealt with under the Social Democrats and were therefore easily exploited by populist parties and individuals who seek to fuel enmity and division, regardless of whether it is galvanising segments of the Muslim population or ethnic Swedes attracted to right-wing ideologies. Nor did the Social Democrats fully recognize or acknowledge these social problems; rather, it became more of an elitist party out of touch with many people’s views and reality. This, in turn, has fueled polarisation and insecurities among vulnerable communities.
Tolerance and coexistence in Sweden can be achieved by promoting national identity and instilling basic common values that all people in the country can accept and share. However, the Social Democrats could not formulate this vision and include immigrant communities. Rather, it was the Sweden Democrats who acknowledged social problems and offered a future vision with commonly shared values. The Social Democrats are now paying the prize for not having done enough to build an integrated and tolerant society. Meanwhile, right-wing and liberal parties are now in government with the support of the Sweden Democrats, promising to fight criminality with new laws such as visitation zones and anonymous witnesses in courts similar to strict Danish laws, targeting criminals in already vulnerable areas where a majority of immigrants live. The coming years will show whether these measures will be successful or further divide an already divided society.
