A systematic review of descriptive and substantive representation of foreign-born women in Swedish politics

Sweden is often seen as a role model country in terms of women’s descriptive political representation, and by consequence, participation. Nevertheless, women with a migration background are still underrepresented in the Swedish parliament (Riksdagen), regional councils, municipality councils, as well as the European parliament. Moreover, members of parliaments may suffer from discriminatory and racialized practices (Albertsson & Eriksson, 2025). In this systematic literature review (e.g., Petticrew & Roberts, 2008), we examine studies which have been published between 2000–2025 and focus on foreign-born women’s descriptive political representation in Sweden, with emphasis on both descriptives and underlying causes and correlates as they have been described in refereed articles, books, book chapters, and government reports (i.e., grey literature). Conceptually, the work hinges on works on both previous work on descriptive and substantive representation of women in politics, particularly in the Swedish context as well as intersections between factors such as gender and ethnicity/minority status (e.g., Freidenvall, 2016; Sainsbury, 2004; Sainsbury & Bergkvist, 2009; Wängnerud, 2009). The review highlights a variety of concepts and factors which are associated with Sweden’s high degree of political representation in parliament (Riksdagen), inclusive of some studies with an intersectional approach (e.g., the nexus between gender and ethnicity among minority groups, the relations between age and gender). In addition, our contribution includes an empirical analysis with municipality data (N = 290). Regression models aim to present and discern broader meso- and macro-level patterns which seem to be associated with the descriptive and substantive representation of women in politics. The variables are related to the findings of the review as well as theoretically significant factors, thus contributing to a mix between deductive and inductive features (Petticrew & Roberts, 2008). Based on this empirical exercise, we raise questions about how the political underrepresentation of women—especially marginalized women—can be addressed, and how empirical research can advance the research field further.