Big Win For Anti-Immigration Party In Sweden
The big news coming out of yesterday's elections in Sweden is that 5.7% of the vote has gone to the "far-right" Sweden Democrats, who will be seated in parliament for the first time in history.
While the editorial board of the UK Telegraph finds the results of the Swedish election disturbing, it blames the success of the radical Sweden Democrats on the economic crisis and the unwillingness of mainstream political parties to hold a mature conversation about immigration:
The stridently anti-immigration platform of the Sweden Democrats secured the party 5.7 per cent of the vote – and 20 parliamentary seats – in Sunday's general election, enough to deny the governing Centre-Right coalition of Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt a majority. While it might surprise some to see an extremist party prosper in this traditionally tolerant liberal democracy, it is actually part of a worrying new trend in European politics. Sweden has become the third EU member state since June to find itself without a governing majority after elections marked by the rise of far-Right, anti-immigration or separatist parties...
The rise of extremist sentiment has been fuelled by immigration and has been exacerbated by the economic crisis; when unemployment rises, so does anti-immigrant sentiment. Underlying it is an increasingly ugly strand of Islamophobia. What is most worrying, however, is the inability or unwillingness of mainstream political parties across Europe to confront these issues. As we have seen in this country, the refusal of the political establishment over many years to conduct a mature debate on immigration has played into the hands of the British National Party.
Here's a campaign video that the Sweden Democrats used in the run-up to yesterday's election. Though it's in Swedish, the message seems pretty clear.
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May '10
Re: Big Win For Anti-Immigration Party In Sweden
I can't see in principle how it's beyond the pale to oppose immigration. I'm generally pro myself, but I can see the other side. (I'm uttelry opposed to the illegal kind though, but that's another topic.)
I'm Norwegian-American, so I can pretty much read these Scandi languages. The Norwegian right wing Party "Progress" is routinely accused of racism but their program is refreshingly Hayakian. Seeing that ad I don't think there's much free enterprise in the Swedish Democrats. But I'll check around, because I've seen how these things work.
May '10
Re: Big Win For Anti-Immigration Party In Sweden
There's a vital difference between welcoming immigrants who are willing to accept the host nation's basic principles and traditions (while reasonably retaining other traditions from their former lives) and welcoming, or treating with indifference, immigrants who refuse to respect the host's traditions.
As I've said before, a nation is properly understood as a people, rather than a government. Just as a political party (GOP, are you listening?) must maintain some basic definition to have any meaning and survive, a nation must have some basic values and practices which unify its various citizens into one people. When "citizen" becomes a purely legal title, the nation concerned is dying.
I'm not that familiar with Swedish politics, but I'd guess that Swedish citizens are reasonably responding to the demographic shift Steyn often describes. No people should be denied a cultural identity.
All persons are flawed, but some are more admirable than others. The same may be said of nations. Cultures change, but not all change is good.
May '10
Re: Big Win For Anti-Immigration Party In Sweden
To amend what I said above: As a kid of seventeen traveling about Norway in the 1980s, I was once accosted by Norwegian youths who demanded to know if I, an American, "burned crosses." A few years later the country was smothered by "Norway for Norwegians" graffitti. So, do I get some grim satisfaction watching smug Scandinavians having to come to terms with actual, as opposed to aspirational, diversity?
You bet your ass I do.
Jun '10
Re: Big Win For Anti-Immigration Party In Sweden
The best way to avoid people fighting over pieces of a finite government pie is to avoid socialist pie shops. These kinds of tensions are much less likely where you have free-markets and limited government. Nobody gets jealous when everybody is baking their own pie. In fact, that's when people are most generous. When everybody is making their own way in the world, what's to fight over?
Jul '10
Re: Big Win For Anti-Immigration Party In Sweden
That's a great point, etoiledunord, and a key reason why the US is the world's success story for integrating immigrants into the prevailing society. When immigrants start their own businesses or are hired for their skills by existing businesses, Americans do not respond by saying "they're stealing our jobs" like many do in Britain (I was once accused by a stranger in an English suburb of stealing his son's job; I didn't know his son was looking for employment in Tokyo). The free-market system levels the playing field for anyone willing to work hard and put their skills to use, and diminishes the perception of unfairness between immigrants (the legal kind) and native-born Americans.
Edited on Sep 20, 2010 at 7:54pmAug '10
Re: Big Win For Anti-Immigration Party In Sweden
I lived and worked in Sweden for almost three years. For Sweden, socialism did sort of work. I had the impression that the viability of socialism was made possible because Sweden, at least once, had a very small and homogeneous demographic. When people can feel that much common ethnic identity, they can begin to approach "what is mine is yours and yours mine. " But that situation is rapidly changing. Immigrants were, as I understood, given a nice chunk of change when they arrived and expected to spread out across Sweden (socialist optimism). Instead, the tendency was to take the cash and quickly move back to ethnic Kommunes--the political neighborhoods or precincts--in Stockholm (free market behavior). Where there are reproductive barriers, mistrust is quick to follow. Socialism requires almost the ideal state of human conditions--like in the Acts of the Apostles--based on trust. But mutual trust lessened for the Apostolic communities as the Church grew in size as well as ethnic diversity. Capitalism will be the only alternative for the Swedes. Capitalism, like a good Republic, is based on the assumption of Man's flaws, not his perfection--nor the comity of a even a diffuse consanguinity.
Edited on Sep 20, 2010 at 10:27pmMay '10
Re: Big Win For Anti-Immigration Party In Sweden
This is kind of cool. I just flew back from Sweden about five hours ago and can't sleep, so I logged on to Ricochet after being gone a week plus and this is the first post I see. A very interesting experience to be in another country on their national election day and watch the results play out on TV. I have the perfect picture to post, if I could, of the TV screen with 9 parties listed across the bottom from left to right in order of their conservative rank, or should I say liberal. The far left being the Communist party, called Vänsterpartiet. They used to be called Kommunistiska Partiet, but my friend told me they don't want people to see the word Communist, so they now call themselves "The Left". They're still Communists, ofcourse. (Very creepy.) The 9th bubble on the right was actually "Others", so there were more than nine parties. It was fascinating and bizarre. And, especially odd, since I was making chocolate chip cookies (I brought the ingredients) with my friend's little girls in the kitchen at the same time...something very American that doesn't exist in Sweden.
May '10
Re: Big Win For Anti-Immigration Party In Sweden
A very chilling moment, though, was when my friend's husband asked with a thick accent, "And what do you think of your Obama?". I gave him my scathing analysis and he said, "Yes. I think so. If you do not stop him you will be Communist, yes." I was surprised he was so well informed and asked him if other Swedes felt the same. He said, "No. The government tells us your Obama is good and we should like him. They took our Fox News, because they said it was not good TV. And gave us Al Jazeera and CNN. So, I watch Glenn Beck and Bill O'Reilly every day on YouTube." I gave him a list of other people to watch and set him up with a bunch of good websites, including Ricochet, of course.
They had, also, never heard about the East Anglia climate controversy. But, everywhere there is propaganda about global warming in your face. Including, of course, information about how much Americans pollute the Earth.
Socialism is horrible.
Aug '10
Re: Big Win For Anti-Immigration Party In Sweden
Andrea, thanks. The relationship of Swedes to Communism is ambiguous--but Communists exist and are active, though you discerned correctly, the names have been changed. At least one of the Kommun(-es) in Stockholm was Communist (a Kommun is like a U.S. precinct on steroids: a rather well-structured and empowered political entity within the city or towns). There was serious opposition to Communism by more American-leaning Swedes in, perhaps, the 50s through 70s (?). I was there 2001 to 2004 (the World Trade Center was last thing of the US I saw from my plane window--five days later it would be gone). Nothing like an American Republican exists there. I was more often than I cared for referred to as a "Fascistic." Swedes are smart people; this shows you the ignorogenic power of controlled news and opinion anywhere--here of course too. Alf Svensson, then head of the Christian Democratic Party, the party I most sympathized with, said of socialism that all Swedes have it, it is like a "chip" implanted in their brains. I would suggest that that is a very unnatural form of "having it."
May '10
Re: Big Win For Anti-Immigration Party In Sweden
David Schmitt
Nothing like an American Republican exists there.
For sure! Their most conservative party is probably only similar to our most moderate Democrats. But, it's still encouraging.
David Schmitt
Alf Svensson, then head of the Christian Democratic Party, the party I most sympathized with, said of socialism that all Swedes have it, it is like a "chip" implanted in their brains. I would suggest that that is a very unnatural form of "having it." · Sep 21 at 4:37am
My friend summed up the difference between us this way...Americans are individually unique, special and important. But, the Swedish government "tells us we are, individually, no one special and our purpose is to function as a group of people that must think and behave the way we are told". That's spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical imprisonment to an American, but they comply as if it is their lot in life. I was an exchange student there years ago, so I'm well familiar with the culture, but it was still a shock to my system experiencing it again. It puts into perspective what a rare treasure America is.
Re: Big Win For Anti-Immigration Party In Sweden
Andrea Ryan: This is kind of cool. I just flew back from Sweden about five hours ago and can't sleep, so I logged on to Ricochet after being gone a week plus and this is the first post I see. A very interesting experience to be in another country on their national election day and watch the results play out on TV. I have the perfect picture to post, if I could, of the TV screen with 9 parties listed across the bottom from left to right in order of their conservative rank, or should I say liberal.
Andrea, send me the picture and I'll gladly stick it up. E-mail it on over to support [at] ricochet [dot] com.
May '10
Re: Big Win For Anti-Immigration Party In Sweden
Andrea Ryan
My friend summed up the difference between us this way...Americans are individually unique, special and important. But, the Swedish government "tells us we are, individually, no one special and our purpose is to function as a group of people that must think and behave the way we are told".
I have yet to visit Sweden, but I've known a handful of Swedes (most still living in America) for many years. The collectivism strikes me as ironic, because the younger Swedes I know are very proud of their viking history. One often wears a "Viking World Tour" T-shirt that lists the many places vikings conquered. As I understand it, viking culture placed great emphasis on the individual's ability to shape his own destiny.
The older Swedes I know love capitalism, but I guess that's why they live in America now.
Ricochet needs to meet in Sweden for the next summer solstice.
Aug '10
Re: Big Win For Anti-Immigration Party In Sweden
Aaron Miller
Ricochet needs to meet in Sweden for the next summer solstice. · Sep 21 at 9:00am
A wonderful idea, Aaron. Swedes love rituals and holidays. Pentecost Sunday is a national holiday. I once asked a shop keeper what the holiday was about. He said, "Oooooh, I tink eet is sumtink ah...about ah...Jesus' Ghost..." Something indeed, and a day off work! But the midnight sun is awesome, so is the game of Kubb after the litany of special alcohols that attend to this and every special event. Crayfish Celebrations are also fun in August as are the cellar pubs in Old Town (Gamla Stan) in the dead of a snow-covered, winter evening. I didn't even talk about the Julboards at Christmas. (I'll pass on the Surströmming--rotten fish--tradition, though--and whacking my shivering, naked, wet self with branches in the snow...) Otherwise, let's do it. Back to the thread, And regarding legal immigration leading, I think, to capitalism in Sweden; illegal immigration here will lead to socialism.
Edited on Sep 21, 2010 at 10:24amAug '10
Re: Big Win For Anti-Immigration Party In Sweden
Andrea Ryan
My friend summed up the difference between us this way...Americans are individually unique, special and important. But, the Swedish government "tells us we are, individually, no one special and our purpose is to function as a group of people that must think and behave the way we are told".
Yes, obedience has been transferred from monarchs to the state. They have a love-hate relationship with America. They are the most Americanized of the European and Scandinavian cultures, perhaps. On summer nights, middle-aged men and their honeys slowly drive shiny, American, classic cars up and down Sveavagen like they had turned off of Rt. 66 to get a burger at an art deco cafe. (My former neighbor in Redwood City, CA sold and shipped a classic he fixed up to a buyer in Stockholm--probably for this purpose.) Regarding their Viking thing, I have often wondered about it. It is certainly a vicarious enjoyment, like the cowboy mythology for some American (or Japanese, Russian, etc.) guy stuck in an urban office building. I have a theory about Vikings, Catholicism, Protestantism and Sweden. Another place. I am already getting complaints from fellow Ricochettes about my verbosity. [Smile.]
May '10
Re: Big Win For Anti-Immigration Party In Sweden
David Schmitt
Aaron Miller
Ricochet needs to meet in Sweden for the next summer solstice. · Sep 21 at 9:00am
Swedes love rituals and holidays...But the midnight sun is awesome, so is the game of Kubb after the litany of special alcohols that attend to this and every special event. Crayfish Celebrations are also fun in August...
Midsommar in Sweden is a lot of fun. The midnight sun was especially incredible at the Arctic Circle. The sun really does set at 11:59 with more than a sliver of bright orange above the horizon...then it scoots over and comes back up at midnight. Quite amazing.
I have never heard of Kubb, but I know all about the alcohol part and the crayfish. Frozen Aquavit and a massive pile of crayfish spread over several picnic tables the length of a barn are not a good combination with an empty stomach willing to drink one but refusing to eat the other.
David Schmitt
...regarding legal immigration leading, I think, to capitalism in Sweden; illegal immigration here will lead to socialism.
Excellent point. I enjoy hearing your experiences and insight.
May '10
Re: Big Win For Anti-Immigration Party In Sweden
David Schmitt
I have a theory about Vikings, Catholicism, Protestantism and Sweden. Another place. I am already getting complaints from fellow Ricochettes about my verbosity. [Smile.] · Sep 21 at 10:38am
I'm curious to hear your theory. And I won't complain...