The Swedish Identity- Defining Swedishness and Political Loyalty
(2019) STVK02 20182Department of Political Science
- Abstract
- Abstract:
Since the implementation of the European community in the 1950’s support for the integration process was founded on the necessity of establishing an ever-closer Union among the citizens of Europe. There was an overall belief that support for a European community would increase over time as a result of the opportunities it created and the functional pressures that followed. The public support was characterised by a permissive consensus until the implementation of the Maastricht treaty in 1992. This treaty introduced the European citizenship and moved integration beyond the economic field. The effort of building solidarity amongst the people of Europe by changing norms at both macro and micro level is countered by nationalistic... (More) - Abstract:
Since the implementation of the European community in the 1950’s support for the integration process was founded on the necessity of establishing an ever-closer Union among the citizens of Europe. There was an overall belief that support for a European community would increase over time as a result of the opportunities it created and the functional pressures that followed. The public support was characterised by a permissive consensus until the implementation of the Maastricht treaty in 1992. This treaty introduced the European citizenship and moved integration beyond the economic field. The effort of building solidarity amongst the people of Europe by changing norms at both macro and micro level is countered by nationalistic pessimism. Support for European integration is steadily declining and scholars are arguing that public opinions are moving from a permissive consensus to a constraining dissensus. Scientists have discovered a tension between the functionalistic and economic opportunities that is produced through integration and the normative cultural and social aspects of national identities.
National identities are indicators of loyalty towards the national system. The role of identities is becoming more important when trying to understand the mobilization of negative attitudes towards European integration. The loyalty towards the national system rests on psychological sentiments of alikeness amongst the citizens as well as it is founded on political and economic performance. Through conducting in depth-interview with members of the Swedish Eurosceptic party the Sweden Democrats the Swedish identity can be defined as an individuals affinity to the Swedish country and their fellow nationals. The perception of alikeness binds the community together. The community rests on a collective will of maintaining the society and its traditional norms and values this perception gives the impression of the Swedish community to be natural and voluntary. Rationalization of the nation has been inculcated in individuals consciousness through socialization processes enforced by the state. Problematizes the view of natural and voluntary communities. The Swedish loyalty is also founded on social contract perceptions and the exchange of responsibilities for civil rights and liberties and the formal notion of receiving something in return. The Swedish identity has not been effected by processes of integration and effort of establishing an ever closer union. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/8965112
- author
- Rosén, Jennifer LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- STVK02 20182
- year
- 2019
- type
- M2 - Bachelor Degree
- subject
- keywords
- Identity, Swedishness, The Sweden Democrats, Public Opinion, Loyalty, Nationalism, Europeanization
- language
- English
- id
- 8965112
- date added to LUP
- 2019-03-21 10:10:29
- date last changed
- 2019-03-21 10:10:29
@misc{8965112,
abstract = {{Abstract:
Since the implementation of the European community in the 1950’s support for the integration process was founded on the necessity of establishing an ever-closer Union among the citizens of Europe. There was an overall belief that support for a European community would increase over time as a result of the opportunities it created and the functional pressures that followed. The public support was characterised by a permissive consensus until the implementation of the Maastricht treaty in 1992. This treaty introduced the European citizenship and moved integration beyond the economic field. The effort of building solidarity amongst the people of Europe by changing norms at both macro and micro level is countered by nationalistic pessimism. Support for European integration is steadily declining and scholars are arguing that public opinions are moving from a permissive consensus to a constraining dissensus. Scientists have discovered a tension between the functionalistic and economic opportunities that is produced through integration and the normative cultural and social aspects of national identities.
National identities are indicators of loyalty towards the national system. The role of identities is becoming more important when trying to understand the mobilization of negative attitudes towards European integration. The loyalty towards the national system rests on psychological sentiments of alikeness amongst the citizens as well as it is founded on political and economic performance. Through conducting in depth-interview with members of the Swedish Eurosceptic party the Sweden Democrats the Swedish identity can be defined as an individuals affinity to the Swedish country and their fellow nationals. The perception of alikeness binds the community together. The community rests on a collective will of maintaining the society and its traditional norms and values this perception gives the impression of the Swedish community to be natural and voluntary. Rationalization of the nation has been inculcated in individuals consciousness through socialization processes enforced by the state. Problematizes the view of natural and voluntary communities. The Swedish loyalty is also founded on social contract perceptions and the exchange of responsibilities for civil rights and liberties and the formal notion of receiving something in return. The Swedish identity has not been effected by processes of integration and effort of establishing an ever closer union.}},
author = {{Rosén, Jennifer}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{The Swedish Identity- Defining Swedishness and Political Loyalty}},
year = {{2019}},
}