Rising Individualism Among Swedish Politicians: A Shift in Political Culture
Swedish politics experiences a rise in individualism with politicians prioritizing personal agendas over party loyalty, as highlighted by recent events.
Key Points
- • Political individualism is increasingly prominent in Sweden.
- • Märta Stenevi's book sheds light on challenges in political leadership.
- • A Social Democratic local party motion calls for stricter lobbying guidelines.
- • Party discipline remains strong despite the rise of individualism.
A recent guest column by political analyst Peter Esaiasson highlights a significant trend in Swedish politics—the emergence of political individualism among leaders, who are increasingly adopting the role of 'political entrepreneurs.' This shift is exemplified by the recent publication of Märta Stenevi's book "Andas. Överlev," where she reflects on her challenges as a leader within the Green Party.
Esaiasson argues that politicians now often prioritize their personal agendas over traditional party loyalty. He cites the recent motion by a Social Democratic local party that seeks to impose stricter guidelines on members engaging in lobbying, indicating the tensions between personal interests and party commitments, especially in light of former Prime Minister Stefan Löfven's lobbying activities.
The concept of political entrepreneurs is further elaborated in the book "Exit riksdagen" by political scientists including Shirin Ahlbäck, who describes this modern politician as one who constantly evaluates their political commitments and diverges from past norms of collective party allegiance. Figures such as Ingvar Carlsson and Fredrik Reinfeldt illustrate this changing dynamic, with Reinfeldt’s sudden departure from politics signifying a break from established expectations of party loyalty.
Despite the growing trend of individualism, Esaiasson reassures that party discipline is still robust in Sweden, allowing political parties to effectively represent a range of interests within the democratic framework, which ultimately contributes to the health of Swedish democracy.