Degree Name

Department

Political Science

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Defense Date

2018-08-01

Publication Date

2018-08-13

First Faculty Advisor

Dr. Wade Jacoby

First Faculty Reader

Dr. Kirk Hawkins

Honors Coordinator

Dr. John Holbein

Keywords

Anti-immigrant parties, immigration, radical right, Sweden, Scandinavia

Abstract

This thesis examines the establishment of an anti-immigrant party (AIP) in Sweden. Until recently, Sweden was known as the Nordic anomaly with no AIP in spite of high levels of immigration and high rates of right-wing violence. This has now changed, and the AIP, Sweden Democrats, are rising to popularity in high speed. I examine the causes given for the anomaly up until 2006 and show that a change in these has since created a favorable environment for an AIP to become successful. First, socio-economic cleavages have become less salient through decreasing party loyalty and increasing numbers of party switchers. Second, the immigration issue has become more politicized. I account for other complementary explanations for a Swedish AIP formation and conclude that Sweden is no longer an anomaly in the landscape of European AIPs.

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