Hundreds of thousands of voters have turned their backs on the Social Democrats - now a new book reveals why. Testimonies from within describes a growing rift between the party and its core voters, where criticism has long been perceived as difficult to express. At the same time, it shows how voters can effectively change policy by switching sides.
The new yoke ”It was never about the immigrants” is based on in-depth interviews with people who have left the Social Democrats and are now active in the Sweden Democrats (SD). It paints a picture of a long-term trend of gradually declining support.
”Between 2014 and 2018, around 11% of S voters switched to the SD; between 2018 and 2022 another 8%. In total, we are talking about hundreds of thousands of voters”, the book states.
The authors describe how the shift did not happen suddenly, but emerged as trust changed.
The interviews: Perceived distance to voters
A recurring picture that emerges from the material is that the relationship between the party and its traditional voter base has weakened. Several interviewees believe that issues that were previously central have been given less space, while everyday problems are perceived as having lower priority.
- The voters that the Social Democrats turned their backs on, the LO collective, that is the voter base on which the Sweden Democrats now rest, says the interviewee Otherwise in the book.
Another interviewee, Ibrahim, describes how the party has changed in character over time:
- The social democratic party that you see today, it looks more like a political nobility, says Ibrahim.
Internal debate silenced
Several interviewees reiterate how some issues were perceived as difficult to raise, especially those related to the development of local communities. According to the book, this has contributed to a feeling that dialogue has been limited.
- One should keep quiet as well, Ibrahim says about discussions on problems in residential areas.
This type of experience is cited as an important reason why voters moved on to other options where they felt more heard.
Changes after the drop
Following its massive electoral losses, the Social Democrats have embarked on a process of change. Among other things, the party has adjusted its policies on issues such as migration and law enforcement, in an attempt to regain support from former voters.
At the same time, the book shows that voter displacement itself has become a clear signal in the political system, where party switching is used as a way for voters to mark dissatisfaction and influence the direction forward.
”...a growing rift between the party and its core voters, where criticism has long been perceived as difficult to express”
It's good that they have switched to SD where there is such a high ceiling for different opinions :-D