The ideologial scale in Sweden – Consensus or sharp contrasts? Part 2

Yesterday we discussed the differences between the right and left-wing. Today we will ask poltical scientist Jenny Madestam detailed questions about the differences between the parties themselves. Before we begin, those of you not so familiar with Swedish politics should be informed that the right wing consists of the Moderate party, the Centre party, the Christian democrats and the People´s party liberals and the left-wing consists of the Social democrats, the Left party and the Green party.

As stated in the last article, the right-wing won government power in the last election in 2006. This newfound position in office has caused several changes in political directions between those parties in order to create a well-functioning corporation between the parties.

- I would say that the Centre party and the Christian democrats are facing an identical crisis. You can say both have sold their soul. The Centre party have given up their resistence to nuclear power and the party leader Maud Olofsson has stated they are a liberal party, having a history of corporation with the Social democrats. She has begun to talk more about the right of the individual and rethorical words such as freedom, Jenny Madestam explains.

- Conservative Christian democrats gave up their opinion about not allowing same-sex-marriage, which all the other parties are in favour of.

- The People´s party liberals have gone from a social liberal direction to a more “demanding” liberalism, a tougher demand on the individuals in society, even if party leader Jan Björklund has mentioned social liberalism in his speeches, she says.

The biggest party within the right-wing alliance, the Moderate party, has had a history of a mixture between conservatism and liberalism, which may explain their new direction in both rethoric and practice. All these changes on this side of the political side can be summarized due to the fact that both liberalism and conservatism have had their home here. It is not like in for example in the U.S. Where liberalism can be labelled “left-wing”.

- Maybe we have a narrow view of right-wing politics in Sweden. Those ideologies are from the beginning each others opposites. Earlier it has been easier to see differences between the right-wing parties, but the changes have been possible due to that both these ideologies belong on this side of the scale. This has in turn been possible because both ideologies has challenged the left wings view on the need for a big state in the welfare system. she concludes.

On the left-wing one tend to divide up the parties between the green party, the Social democrats and the Left party with the latter most to the left and the first party most to the right. But due to the fact that these parties also have to cooperate changes can be visible also here.

- The Left party has been forced to go more to the right in the agreements with the other left-wing parties. But I am sure there are a lot of people within the party which would like to see for example higher taxes.

Party leader Lars Ohly was also forced to stop calling himself a communist a couple of years ago, as both media and the people reacted strongly towards Ohly labelling himself that.

All these radical shifts in direction in the course of only a couple of years has of course made it really difficult to place the parties on an obvious ideologial scale. And it may happen more. The Sweden democrats which have expressed opinions against immigration may enter the parliament after the election which can force parties to cooperate despite ideological differences to block that partiy´s influence.

Sharp constrats or consensus? Nothing really, or both maybe...

/The cat goes political

The ideologial scale in Sweden – Consensus or sharp contrasts? Part 1

Election day is getting closer in Sweden. In September it will be decided if the current right-wing government will extend their time in power with another four-year-term. Or will the left/green-party opposition take revenge for last election when they lost after 12 years in office? Both will fight to form government and they will do everything to distinguish themselves from each other. The campaigning is getting more and more intense. Both sides are doing their best to portray their opponent as a worst case scenario and themselves as the only possible way.

In recent years, however, opinions have grown that the parties have become more and more similar to each other and difficult for the voters to separate between the sides. On the other hand there are people who claim there are major differences. To get to the bottom of these contradicting opinions, I decided to call someone who maybe can shed some light on this mater: Political scientist Jenny Madestam at Stockholm University.

- I do feel there is a difference between the two alliances (left/green and right). The latest suggestions for an economical budget point to that they both with concern for the welfare state. But the means to get there are different, Madestam says.

- The right-wing proposes cut-downs in the social insurance system which they believe pushes people to search for a job. The left wing wants to raise taxes in order to give people a secure income, she explains.

So, it seems that according to Jenny Madestam this is where the big difference lie – in the mater of politics regarding employment and economic compensation for the unemployed. But both sides claim they put great value into the welfare state – which was maybe not so clearly expressed from the right wing government a couple of years ago. The biggest party within this alliance, the Moderate party, won the last election probably because they launched a broader image to the voters.

- Prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt has been good at borrowing messages and rhetoric from the Social democrats, says Madestam but at the same time withholds that they in practice have moved in a more social liberal direction.

This may be confusing to voters who might have a hard time to see clear alternatives to choose from. And Madestam also believe parties portray their opponent to give the voters just that – a clear “good” option in stark contrast to the other “darker” side.

- Maybe they exaggerate the differences between them. If you listen to the latest speeches you can get that impression. Its true there are two different ideological sides but its not a question of two completely different systems.

In part 2 tomorrow we will go more into detail and ask Jenny about the ideological standpoints and differences between the parties and not just between the two alliances.