Swedish Democrats and the Finn organization emerged as responses to the challenges of globalisation and national identity, initially setting themselves goals related to the criticism of immigration and the preservation of sovereignty. Both parties encountered difficulties in accepting from the political establishment due to controversial positions and populist rhetoric. Although they had akin roots, they differed in detail: Swedish Democrats focused on immigration issues and national culture, while the Finns organization emphasized national sovereignty and criticism of European integration.
Over the last fewer years, the utmost right has gained crucial influence in European policy, and Sweden and Finland were no exception. Swedish Democrats (SD) in Sweden and the Finn organization (Perrus) in Finland won voter support and introduced their representatives to parliament and local authorities. 1 of the key factors that contributed to the emergence in the popularity of the far right is the migration crisis that started in Europe in 2015[1]. The immense waves of refugees and migrants arriving in Sweden and Finland have caused uncertainty and concerns among the population. The second origin is the year 2014 and the war in Ukraine and the current escalation of the larger-scale conflict of 2022. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has led to a change of priorities in both societies and a greater focus on state safety issues. The utmost right focused on this issue, promising to strengthen the army, introduce stricter immigration policies, and defend culture and national identity.
As in another parts of the world, Swedes and Finns have besides experienced a global anti-establishment trend. any voters were tired of conventional political parties and felt that existing political elites did not represent their interests. The utmost right presented itself as an alternate to conventional groups and promised to make extremist changes to the political system. In Sweden and Finland there are challenges in integrating immigrants. any of the society blamed conventional political parties for failure in integration policies and accused them of excessive political correctness. The utmost right took advantage of these concerns, promising a more restrictive approach to immigrants and opposing multiculturalism[2].
Table 1 Support and number of mandates obtained by Patie Finns in parliamentary elections[3].Swedish Democrats and the Finn organization have applied various strategies to increase their popularity and strive for power, attaching importance to communication with voters, average rhetoric and coalition building, and attracting fresh members. SD underwent evolution from utmost rhetoric to moderate, allowing them to attract a wider spectrum of voters and gain acceptance in mainstream politics. Their electoral campaigns focused on topics related to immigration control and the protection of national culture, reflecting the concerns of a certain part of society. They reinforced their support through direct communication with voters through social media, which built individual relationships and created an impression of closeness with the "people". They besides utilized a strategy to attract fresh members, enabling them to organise local activities and grow their impact[4].
Table 2 Support and number of seats earned by Swedish Democrats in parliamentary elections[5].The PS focused on criticism of the establishment and focused on local problems and citizens' needs. Their campaigns were based on the belief that conventional political parties do not represent “ordinary people”. They built support through rhetoric against European integration and violation of national sovereignty, which active those who feared losing control of their own destiny. At the same time, they focused on forming a coalition with another parties, which allowed them to gain more influence and support. Both parties faced social and political opposition due to their first utmost positions, making it hard to build wider support[6]. SD met with social opposition and policy isolation from major parties, which forced direct communication with voters. The PS, on the another hand, faced interior conflicts and controversial statements by members, which affected the unity of the organization and its reputation. Both SD and PS experienced scandals and reactions from another parties, which shaped their way to power, requiring evolution and ability to manage these challenges.
The increasing socio-economic inequalities in these countries besides played their function in expanding support for the far right. A part of society, especially from lower social classes, felt neglected by ruling and conventional parties.
The utmost right focused on economical safety issues, promised better social care and occupation creation. It is besides worth noting that the utmost right utilized global populist trends, which became 1 of the most crucial elements of modern politics. Populism was utilized by these groups as a way to attract voters, promising simpler solutions to hard problems and accusing conventional parties of corruption or inability.
Poland perspective
In the context of the tallness of the far right in Sweden and Finland, the position of Poland takes on circumstantial shades. Although Poland differs geographically and politically from these 2 Scandinavian countries, there are common points that can affect the political scenery of Poland in relation to the improvement of the far right.
The first key area is immigration policy. Changes in immigration policy in Sweden and Finland resulting from the migration crisis origin akin debates on borders and safety as in Poland.
The second crucial aspect is increasing populism and anti-establishment moods. Poland besides witnessed the growth of right-wing and populist parties. Events in Scandinavia can further encourage specified parties to item their function as alternatives to conventional groupings.
In the context of increasing socio-economic inequalities which played a key function in supporting the far right in another countries, Poland can besides see analogies. The parties of the far right can gain support by emphasising economical and social issues. It is besides worth paying attention to aspects related to cultural and national values. Poland, with strong national identity and tradition, can be peculiarly susceptible to the grounds for defending national values, which are frequently utilized by the far right. Finally, the debates on relations with the European Union and national sovereignty are issues that have been present both in Poland and in the Nordic countries (i.e. EU associate States – Denmark, Finland and Sweden). The improvement of the far right in another countries can influence the EU's attitudes and policies.
What can the future bring for both parties?
Swedish Democrats (SD) and the Fin organization (PS) have achieved a crucial position in their country's policies, with long-term implications for society, the economy and global relations. In the case of SD, their impact on immigration policy and national safety is clear. Although they had difficulty gaining support from another parties, their growth changed the political discourse in Sweden on immigration. However, their earlier utmost rhetoric leaves traces and the challenge lies in the skillful balance of their policies with the request to avoid extremism. In the case of PS, their criticism of European integration (although at the time of elections and the creation of a government coalition) will have an impact on global relations and Finland's position in the EU. This was accompanied by an increase in Euroscepticism and the expressed desire to keep national sovereignty. This has affected the debate on the future of the EU and the function of individual countries in European integration. The prospects for further improvement of both parties are now subject to widespread speculation. Both parties can proceed to draw on the support of those dissatisfied with the political mainstream and stay crucial players. However, they besides face challenges. SD faces the task of maintaining a average image while not losing the support of its more utmost supporters. For PS, it is crucial to keep the assurance of its constituents and the ability to deal with interior conflicts that may affect organization unity.
Photo: PAP/EPA
[1] T. S. Petropoulos, Breaking Point: How migrant crisis has influenced the emergence of Far-Right Parties in Italy, Germany, and the UK, Fordham University 2021, pp.42-44.
[2] B. Kenes, The Sweden Democrats: Killer of Swedish Exceptionism, The European Center for Population Studies (ECPS) 2021, p.30-35.
[3] Own improvement based on data from the archives of the Swedish Parliament and Europe Elects.
[4] Ibid.
[5]Own improvement based on data from the archives of the Swedish Parliament and Europe Elects.
[6]Ágnes Berecz, Populism in nordic countries -A critical assessment, Babes Bolyai University, Cluj – Napoca 2013, pp.33-58.
