A Swedish Dystopia: US far-right framings of Sweden online

Sweden presents an interesting case through which to study the far right. While previously considered a ‘political exception’ in 21st century Europe—for a long time having had no electorally successful far-right party—Sweden has in recent years experienced a spike in far-right political sentiment. Alongside these developments of national Swedish far-right prominence, there are also external forces reframing the image of Sweden. Although Sweden has historically been perceived internationally in terms of progressiveness, equality, modernity, and political neutrality, more recent depictions by the transnational far right portray Sweden in decline. In this paper I analyse how Sweden and Swedishness is depicted online by far-right right groups in the United States, specifically in settings where these representations can take shape without moderation. Accordingly, the paper samples texts specifically mentioning or referencing Sweden on a number of far-right, fringe sites and blogs belonging to US far-right movements and groups. These fringe, inward-facing, extremist settings attract those who hold the most radical far-right views and represent safe spaces for radical far-right sympathisers to perpetuate their specific world views and to nurture and strengthen their community in the absence of criticism or contesting opinion. The paper deepens knowledge of the global dynamics through which far-right views gain societal visibility at a time when the far right is not only moving into the mainstream, but the mainstream is also moving towards the radical right.