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Att ta debatten, hålla distansen och hitta balansen – En studie av partistrategiska svårigheter i bemötandet av Sverigedemokraterna i fyra sydsvenska kommuner

Bodensten, Martin LU (2010) STVM11 20101
Department of Political Science
Abstract (Swedish)
This thesis explores the strategic interaction between mainstream parties and the Sweden Democrats (SD), a Swedish radical right-wing populist party (RRP-party). The purpose is twofold: (1) to identify strategic difficulties in responding to SD, and (2) to problemize and simplify the results in order to deepen the strategic understanding.
Ten qualitative and explorative interviews are conducted with politicians from the Social Democrats (Socialdemokraterna) and the Conservative party (Moderaterna), as well as with representatives from SD, in four municipalities in southern Sweden. The empirical material is analyzed through an analytical framework, centered on three strategic concepts—position, ownership and salience—and three conceptual... (More)
This thesis explores the strategic interaction between mainstream parties and the Sweden Democrats (SD), a Swedish radical right-wing populist party (RRP-party). The purpose is twofold: (1) to identify strategic difficulties in responding to SD, and (2) to problemize and simplify the results in order to deepen the strategic understanding.
Ten qualitative and explorative interviews are conducted with politicians from the Social Democrats (Socialdemokraterna) and the Conservative party (Moderaterna), as well as with representatives from SD, in four municipalities in southern Sweden. The empirical material is analyzed through an analytical framework, centered on three strategic concepts—position, ownership and salience—and three conceptual dualisms—parliamentary arena-electoral arena, actor-issue and supply-demand.
The analysis shows that a strategy of political isolation is in use but that it has caused significant turmoil among the established parties, partly, due to its vague conceptual clarity, partly, because of the actions of the SD.
This together with managing SD’s issue ownership on migration politics, results in a balancing act between three strategies: (1) demonizing to delegitimize SD and to legitimize a strategy of political isolation, (2) refutation to enable the established parties to influence the content of the issue, and (3) disregarding to play down its salience. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Bodensten, Martin LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVM11 20101
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
party strategies, Sweden Democrats, established parties, municipal politics, radical right-wing populism, niche parties, pariah parties, political strategies
language
Swedish
id
1653092
date added to LUP
2010-09-13 09:30:29
date last changed
2010-09-13 09:30:29
@misc{1653092,
  abstract     = {{This thesis explores the strategic interaction between mainstream parties and the Sweden Democrats (SD), a Swedish radical right-wing populist party (RRP-party). The purpose is twofold: (1) to identify strategic difficulties in responding to SD, and (2) to problemize and simplify the results in order to deepen the strategic understanding.
Ten qualitative and explorative interviews are conducted with politicians from the Social Democrats (Socialdemokraterna) and the Conservative party (Moderaterna), as well as with representatives from SD, in four municipalities in southern Sweden. The empirical material is analyzed through an analytical framework, centered on three strategic concepts—position, ownership and salience—and three conceptual dualisms—parliamentary arena-electoral arena, actor-issue and supply-demand.
The analysis shows that a strategy of political isolation is in use but that it has caused significant turmoil among the established parties, partly, due to its vague conceptual clarity, partly, because of the actions of the SD. 
This together with managing SD’s issue ownership on migration politics, results in a balancing act between three strategies: (1) demonizing to delegitimize SD and to legitimize a strategy of political isolation, (2) refutation to enable the established parties to influence the content of the issue, and (3) disregarding to play down its salience.}},
  author       = {{Bodensten, Martin}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Att ta debatten, hålla distansen och hitta balansen – En studie av partistrategiska svårigheter i bemötandet av Sverigedemokraterna i fyra sydsvenska kommuner}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}