It’s a country known for its generous welfare system, its cleanliness, and liberal ideas. Former President Barack Obama praised it as a model society before his 2016 state visit. For decades, Sweden has been synonymous with openness, fairness, and equality. But in recent years, the small Nordic country has undergone a dramatic shift.
After being ruled by the Social Democrat party for seven, almost uninterrupted, decades, Sweden is now facing far-right rule as it nears its national election on Sept. 9. Sweden’s far-right party, the Sweden Democrats (Sverigedemokraterna), has doubled in size over the last four elections, and with a showing of 22.6 percent in the latest polls they are predicted to be either the largest or second largest party in the country in this election, making way for a dramatic change in Swedish public policy.
