Going different ways? Right-wing parties and the immigrant issue in Denmark and Sweden

Abstract

This article analyses centre-right parties' attitudes and positions on immigration and integration in Denmark and Sweden. Despite being socioeconomically and culturally similar, there are also some significant political and structural differences which help to explain why immigration has played a much more prominent role in Danish politics compared to Swedish politics. The article argues that this can be explained with reference to, on the one hand, the stability of bloc party politics and, on the other, the extent to which centre-right parties have exploited 'the immigration issue' as a profiling tool. The findings suggest that even though Denmark has adopted a much tougher stance on immigration and integration compared to Sweden, the political climate in the latter has also undergone a number of changes in the past decade which has allowed for centre-right and radical right parties to use immigration to challenge the prevailing cross-party consensus on the issue by suggesting a more market oriented integration policy.

Desperate Needs, Desperate Deeds: Why Mainstream Parties Respond to the Issues of Niche Parties

“…While some studies have argued that mainstream parties' strategic behaviour mainly shapes politicisation (Green-Pedersen 2012;Green-Pedersen and Krogstrup 2008;Green-Pedersen and Odmalm 2008;Meguid 2005), this finding lends credence to a more balanced view regarding the hypothesised impact of mainstream vis-à-vis niche parties. Niche parties should not be considered 'hapless victims [of the external political supply side]' but rather 'active shapers of their own fates' (Mudde 2007: 256).…”

The missing factor: why social democracy can lead to restrictive immigration policy

“…While the migration policy literature can be characterized as rich and eclectic, many studies emphasize one of the following aspects: political institutions (Togman 2001), national economic conditions (Meyers 2004), cultural context (Minkenberg 2008), vote-maximizing behaviour on the part of political parties (Money 1999) and the behaviour of right-wing and populist parties (Bale 2008;Green-Pedersen and Krogstrup 2008;Green-Pedersen and Odmalm 2008;Kitschelt 1997;Rydgren 2005;Rydgren and Widfeldt 2004;Smith 2008). This literature makes a significant contribution to the understanding of migration policy.…”

Do Anti‐immigration Parties Matter? The Case of the Sweden Democrats and Local Refugee Policy

“…Moreover, Sweden has often been characterised as having a generous migration policy (Abiri ) and might therefore also be considered to be a least‐likely case for anti‐immigration party influence. While Sweden for a long period of time has been one of the EU countries receiving the most refugees (UNHCR ), migration policy has rarely been given much space and has been characterised by consensus (Green‐Pedersen & Odmalm ). That the issue to such little extent has been politicised despite there being a significant number of voters who hold anti‐immigration opinions (Sandberg & Demker ) has been highlighted as an important reason to why Sweden, unlike many other West European countries, for a long time had no anti‐immigration party in the national parliament (Odmalm ; Dahlström & Esaiasson ).…”