“Vi är den skyddsvärda minoriteten”: Hur den svenska radikal- och extremhögern tagit mänskliga rättigheter gisslan

Abstract

Recent studies suggests that far right parties in Europe have adopted a liberal and progressive rhetoric to mobilize new voters. These parties have, for example, embraced values such as gender equality, LGBTQ rights, and freedom of speech, values that historically have not been associated with such organizations, raising the question of how they manage to incorporate these values into an otherwise far-right agenda? The parties argue that these rights are jeopardized by immigration from Muslim countries. The research is still in its early phases, and it remains unclear if Swedish far-right parties have adopted these values to the same extent as other European parties. By studying three different parties from a broad ideological spectrum, this study aim to answer if and how these parties have adopted a similar rhetoric. This will be accomplished by analyzing quotes that advocate for equality and freedom based on Human Rights documents. This study employs a thematic analysis developed by Braun and Clarke (2006) along with ideas presented by the French New Right as outlined by Teitelbaum (2017), who suggest that the Swedish far-right draws inspiration from these concepts. The objective is to analyze quotes and other materials from three Swedish parties, namely the cultural nationalist Sverigedemokraterna, the ethnic nationalist Alternativ för Sverige, and the neo-Nazi organization Nordiska motståndsrörelsen, to determine whether similar values are being applied within the Swedish far-right discourse. The findings indicate that the Swedish parties have indeed adopted a rhetoric similar to that of European parties. However, the Swedish far-right appears to place a greater emphasis on arguing that Swedes are at risk due to anti-native acts committed by immigrants. Furthermore, the results suggest that extreme-right parties are more inclined to argue that specific rights are endangered by the state, whereas radical-right parties view excessive immigration as the primary threat. Finally, it was possible to see a connection between ideas developed by The French new right and how the Swedish far right applied a rhetoric based on Human rights.