Sweden : the rise and fall of block politics

• This chapter examines coalition formation and coalition governance in Sweden. Swedish coalition politics have historically been characterized by a near-unidimensional political conflict along the left-right policy dimension, along with minority government rule (and a high share of minority cabinets). This remains unchanged over the last three decades. In addition, Swedish politics has long been characterized by "two-bloc politics", where the socialist and the non-socialist bloc have competed for power. However, the growing electoral successes for the populist radical right party, the Sweden Democrats, has recently and at least temporary, ended this. Although, the increasing fragmentation and polarisation of Swedish politics has made bargaining over government more difficult, it has not changed how coalition cabinets work and the existing practices of coalition governance since early 1990s remains intact. Collegiality and consensus are still the dominant characteristics of Swedish coalition governance.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Statsvetenskap -- Statsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Political Science -- Political Science (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Sweden

coalition governance

coalition formation

minority cabinets

compromise

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

kap (ämneskategori)