Sweden
Sweden is high performing in all categories of the Global State of Democracy (GSoD) framework. Though it remains in the high range, it has declined in Freedom of the Press compared to 2018, due partly to online harassment against journalists. The government recently sought to protect impartial reporting via legislation augmenting penalties for crimes committed against journalists. The country has also declined in Economic Equality (though remains high performing) as income inequality has significantly increased since the 1990s. Sweden’s mixed, competitive economy features strong automotive, forestry, and telecommunications industries.
Sweden has typically been characterized by its consensual political culture, politically active electorate, and its commitment to universal welfare, equal standards and redistribution of wealth. As the country grapples with newer threats, such as rising political violence by extremists, an increase in organized violent crime, and widespread disinformation, politics is transforming. First, Sweden’s accession to NATO in response to the Russian war in Ukraine has signaled a shift away from its historical position of neutrality. Second, new political actors, such as civil society actors, think tanks and social movements have become increasingly engaged in traditionally party-centered processes. Third, while Swedish politics have been long dominated by the classic socioeconomic left-right dimension, national political competition has more recently come to be structured along new political cleavages - such as in relation to environmental protection, immigration and integration policies. The rise of the populist far-right has tapped into political debate around refugees and asylum seekers, raising questions about what is and is not “Swedish” identity. There has also been some tension between state interests and Indigenous rights as a result of mining activity as Sweden pushes towards self-sufficiency in its energy supply. These transformations have resulted in a more turbulent form of politics, as it has become harder to form strong coalition governments.
Additionally, challenges facing the decentralized nature of the country’s political framework are affecting the welfare and health care system. Municipal authorities, in charge of implementing key welfare dimensions such as (but not limited to) healthcare, are increasingly challenged by issues such as (socially representative) recruitment, an ageing population, and the effects of urbanization - both in terms of the increased demand for welfare services in rapidly growing urban areas, and issues of financing and distance to public services in shrinking rural areas.
Sweden is high performing in Gender Equality, particularly in terms of women’s political representation within the legislature and state administration, yet women’s economic independence remains an issue and gender disparities in disposable income and average pensions persist. Recent legislation made it easier for people to change their legally recognized gender in Sweden’s population register, with impacts on the rights of transgender Swedes.
Looking ahead, it is important to watch the country’s performance in Social Group Equality, particularly in connection with new possible immigration policies, as well as ongoing issues with integration policies and return operations. It will also be important to watch for unintended impacts of policies geared towards improving security, enabling the police to create “security zones,” which have been criticized for risks of ethnic profiling and for potentially arbitrary use. Finally, it will be important to watch Participation, particularly Civic Engagement, as Sweden experiments with national citizens’ assemblies, including on sustainable and healthy food and climate change.
Last updated: July 2024
https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/
May 2024
Parliament approves amendments criminalising genocide denial
On 22 May, Parliament passed amendments to the Criminal Code as well as to the Freedom of the Press Ordinance, part of Sweden’s Constitution, clarifying provisions on incitement against ethnic groups. The amendments explicitly criminalise the denial of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes. The Criminal Code previously criminalised incitement, threats or disrespect against a group of people based on race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or transgender identity, and included a maximum penalty of two years in prison (maximum of four years for serious crimes in cases of particularly threatening or offensive content or distribution to a large number of people). The amendments clarify that these provisions apply to incitement to violence to reduce ambiguity in the application of the law. The provisions further extend protections to individuals belonging to protected groups, and provide the right to damages and status as injured parties. The amendments to the Criminal Code will enter into force on 1 July 2024. The constitutional amendments can only apply from 1 January 2027 after the next parliamentary elections, according to the Constitution.
Sources: SVD, Riksdagen (1), Riksdagen (2), Riksdagen (3), Riksdagen (4), Civil Rights Defenders
April 2024
Controversial Police Act amendment allows the creation of ‘Security Zones’
On 10 April, Parliament approved an amendment to the Police Act, allowing the police to create so-called “Security zones.” The security zones are temporary, geographically limited areas in which the police are allowed to conduct a body search or search a vehicle without concrete suspicion of crime. The decision to search a person or vehicle could instead be based on certain risk profiles, such as wearing clothing brands that are associated with gangs. The law's purpose is to make it easier for the police to find weapons or explosives and to combat rising gang violence. The law has been heavily criticized including by the Equality Ombudsman (DO) and the Swedish Institute for Human Rights, which each expressed strong concerns that the law can lead to ethnic profiling, that it is too extensive in terms of the power it gives the police, and that there is a risk of arbitrary use. The law entered into force on 25 April.
Sources: The Equality Ombudsman, Institute for Human Rights, the Swedish Government, Svt Nyheter (1), Svt Nyheter (2), the Police Act
Masked men attack anti-fascist meeting
A public meeting organized by the Left Party (V) and the Green Party (MP) was attacked by three masked men on 24 April. The meeting was about the growth of fascism and featured speakers from the anti-racist foundation, Expo as well as the Swedish journalist and activist, Mathias Wåg. The attackers deployed a smoke bomb and physically assaulted speakers and attendees. The Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, as well as leaders of the other major political parties, expressed their concern about such an attack on a political meeting. The attack comes as part of a longer trend of increased political violence, with a notable example being the murder that occurred during Almedalen Political Week in 2022.
Sources: SVT, Reuters (1), Swedish Radio, Swedish Security Service, Euractiv, Reuters (2), Government Offices of Sweden
Parliament approves legislation facilitating legal gender changes
On 17 April, Parliament passed a new law making it easier for people to change their legally recognized gender in Sweden’s population register. The law was introduced by the Health and Welfare parliamentary committee and passed with 234 votes in favour and 94 against. The legislation ensures that changing legal gender no longer requires a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria but means a shorter consultation with a doctor is sufficient. Additionally, the age limit for legal gender changes was lowered from 18 years to 16 years with a guardian’s approval. Proponents, such as the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Rights (Riksförbundet för homosexuellas, bisexuellas, transpersoners, queeras och intersexpersoners rättigheter - RFSL), say the law can contribute to improved personal safety for transgender people. The law will enter into force in July 2025.
Sources: Sveriges Riksdag, RFSL, The Local (1), The Local (2), Svenska Dagbladet
March 2024
Sweden officially joins NATO
On 7 March, Sweden officially joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as the 32nd member of the alliance. Sweden applied for membership in NATO on 18 May 2022, at the same time as Finland, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Sweden’s accession was drawn out by delayed ratification by existing members, Türkiye and Hungary, who respectively approved Sweden’s membership in January and February 2024. On entering NATO, Sweden leaves behind 200 years of military non-alignment. A long history of close cooperation with NATO and the changing security situation in Europe have led to broad political support for joining NATO, with 269 out of 349 members of the Swedish Parliament voting in favour of Sweden’s accession to NATO.
Sources: Government Offices of Sweden (1), Government Offices of Sweden (2), SVT News, Reuters
Citizens’ assembly on climate change kicks off
On 9 March, a representative sample of 60 Swedish participants convened for the opening of Sweden’s first national citizens’ assembly on climate change. The assembly will consider means for Sweden to lower greenhouse gas emissions in order to meet its international climate commitments. The assembly is run by Fairtrans, a research programme delivered by a consortium of Swedish universities and research institutes. The deliberations will be supported by climate experts who will weigh in with diverse areas of knowledge. The citizens’ assembly will vote on the final recommendations and present their findings on 19 May 2024, including to Swedish policymakers such as the climate policy spokespersons of the parliamentary groups. Participants were selected to be representative of Sweden’s population based on factors such as age, gender, income and political views.
Sources: Stockholm University, Buergerrat, Stockholm Resilience Center, Fairtrans, SVT, Dagens Nyheter
January 2024
Parliament passes amendments to the Aliens Act
As of 1 January, new legislation allows police to physically search people suspected of being illegal immigrants for identity documents (if they fail to provide the documents voluntarily) and retain the documents until their legal status is confirmed or they leave the country. The measures were criticized by Civil Rights Defenders for the risk of ethnic profiling when they were proposed in 2022. On 1 March, further amendments to the Aliens Act will enter into force, allowing for the revocation of “alien passports” for security reasons. “Alien passports” are granted to residence permit holders who cannot safely obtain a home country passport. The changes also expand the grounds for revoking residence permits for individuals suspected of terrorism or state-sponsored industrial espionage. The Council on Legislation cautioned against the changes, due to loosely defined criteria for identifying involvement in terrorism, potentially resulting in arbitrary enforcement.
Sources: Riksdagen – decision (1), Civil Rights Defenders, The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention, Riksdagen - decision (2), the Council on Legislation
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