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Sweden : Minority government as the norm

Lindahl, Jonas ; Hellström, Johan and Bäck, Hanna LU orcid (2019) p.127-146
Abstract

Swedish coalition politics is markedly influenced both by a historically strong emphasis on near-unidimensional political conflict along the left-right economic dimension, the once-dominant position of the Social Democrats, and a negative parliamentarism system. These factors have contributed to most governments formed during the post-World War Two period comprising a minority of seats in parliament. Often, governments have been single-party Social Democrat cabinets, who have relied on support from one or more parties outside government. Swedish politics has long been characterized by “bloc politics”, where the socialist and the non-socialist bloc have competed for power. However, with the entry and growth of the populist radical-right... (More)

Swedish coalition politics is markedly influenced both by a historically strong emphasis on near-unidimensional political conflict along the left-right economic dimension, the once-dominant position of the Social Democrats, and a negative parliamentarism system. These factors have contributed to most governments formed during the post-World War Two period comprising a minority of seats in parliament. Often, governments have been single-party Social Democrat cabinets, who have relied on support from one or more parties outside government. Swedish politics has long been characterized by “bloc politics”, where the socialist and the non-socialist bloc have competed for power. However, with the entry and growth of the populist radical-right party, the Sweden Democrats, the future of bloc politics has become more uncertain. Consequently, after the 2018 election, the formation of a centre-left, red-green government required drawn-out negotiations across and within the two blocs in order to obtain the necessary support of several non-socialist parties.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
Coalition Government as a Reflection of a Nation’s Politics and Society : A Comparative Study of Parliamentary Parties and Cabinets in 12 Countries - A Comparative Study of Parliamentary Parties and Cabinets in 12 Countries
pages
20 pages
publisher
Routledge
external identifiers
  • scopus:85118086829
ISBN
9780429748783
DOI
10.4324/9780429422379-8
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b82d93e0-1f23-48a0-bd9b-7ad815edd260
date added to LUP
2021-11-23 12:13:16
date last changed
2024-02-20 17:47:49
@inbook{b82d93e0-1f23-48a0-bd9b-7ad815edd260,
  abstract     = {{<p>Swedish coalition politics is markedly influenced both by a historically strong emphasis on near-unidimensional political conflict along the left-right economic dimension, the once-dominant position of the Social Democrats, and a negative parliamentarism system. These factors have contributed to most governments formed during the post-World War Two period comprising a minority of seats in parliament. Often, governments have been single-party Social Democrat cabinets, who have relied on support from one or more parties outside government. Swedish politics has long been characterized by “bloc politics”, where the socialist and the non-socialist bloc have competed for power. However, with the entry and growth of the populist radical-right party, the Sweden Democrats, the future of bloc politics has become more uncertain. Consequently, after the 2018 election, the formation of a centre-left, red-green government required drawn-out negotiations across and within the two blocs in order to obtain the necessary support of several non-socialist parties.</p>}},
  author       = {{Lindahl, Jonas and Hellström, Johan and Bäck, Hanna}},
  booktitle    = {{Coalition Government as a Reflection of a Nation’s Politics and Society : A Comparative Study of Parliamentary Parties and Cabinets in 12 Countries}},
  isbn         = {{9780429748783}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{127--146}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  title        = {{Sweden : Minority government as the norm}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9780429422379-8}},
  doi          = {{10.4324/9780429422379-8}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}