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- Bynander, Fredrik, et al.
(author)
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Swedish Coalition Governments and the Quest for Re-election
- 2014
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In: Political Capital and the Dynamics of Leadership.
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This paper will use the Leadership Capital Index to develop and compare case studies of twoSwedish coalition leaders, Carl Bildt (1991-1994) and Fredrik Reinfeldt (2006 - present). Mr.Bildt and Mr. Reinfeldt represent the Moderates, a Centre-right party, which has been thesecond largest party, behind the long-dominant Social Democrats, since the 1970s. The twoleaders faced similar political problems, but with very different outcomes. Their respectivecoalition included three additional parties, challenging their relational skills, and both wrestledwith the dilemma of having the parliamentary equation disturbed by the emergence a rightwing populist party. Adding to the similarities is that they were confronted with economiccrises during their incumbencies. While Mr. Bildt, however, only lasted one term in office, Mr.Reinfeldt has managed to secure two consecutive terms for his coalition (although losing hismajority in 2010), a unique achievement in a country that has been dominated by Social Democraticgovernments. The paper aims to strengthen the operationalization of the LCI by addingtwo comparative cases and consideration for systemic factors to the analysis, such as type ofgovernment and parliamentary balance of power. The case studies will further clarify the relativeimportance of the leaders’ coalition maintenance efforts.
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