Swedish workers snub politics – SD is an exception

Published 25 November 2024 at 17.59

Domestic. Despite the fact that the working class makes up half of the Swedish electorate, the group is strongly underrepresented in politics. This is shown by a new study from Uppsala University and Stockholm University.

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The result shows that the proportion of politicians from the working class is lower at all political levels, and especially in higher positions.

Only 13 percent of the Riksdag members come from the working class, compared to 34 percent of the candidates in municipal elections.

– Despite the fact that the working class accounts for half the electorate, it is rarely reflected in leading political positions, says Johanna Rickne, professor of economics at Stockholm University, to Forskning.se.

The study rejects explanations such as low competence or a lack of ambition among working-class politicians. Voters are as likely to vote for them as for other social groups, and their honesty and willingness to serve the public interest are equivalent. Despite this, the representation is significantly lower in higher political roles.

One possible explanation that can be raised is that labor occupations often have less flexible working conditions, which makes it more difficult to combine work with political assignments. In addition, fewer people within the working class know someone with experience in politics, which can affect the willingness to get involved.

The Sweden Democrats have the highest proportion of politicians from the working class, while the Social Democrats and the Left Party are no better at representing this group than other parties, despite their historical ties to the labor movement. Many of their politicians from the working class, however, have a background in the trade union movement.

– The union's influence within these parties is a likely explanation for why Sweden still has more workers in politics than many other countries, says Johanna Rickne.

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