Populism in Sweden: As a Political Ideology and a Communication Tactic

Populism is a highly contested and politicized word in the world of political science, and Sweden is no exception in this respect. It is a loaded and emotive word and term that is broadly defined and interpreted by various actors and interests. It has academic definitions, and practical applications that are used to describe the term and its effects, importantly populism, are also used as an accusation to try and disadvantage a political opponent. Sweden like other Western liberal democracies is facing a crisis of legitimacy in the system of establishment politics, the challenge coming from a more communicatively agile, and in-tune system of anti-establishment politics. Therefore, populism features prominently in the political marketing of Swedish politics, especially during elections.