Populist Governance in Sweden and Its Impact on State‐Civil Society Relations From CSOs' Perspective
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 11005806 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Roberto Scaramuzzino (0000-0001-6072-6928, School of Social Work Lund University Lund Sweden, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 49 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Scandinavian Political Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0080-6757 • E-ISSN: 1467-9477 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/1467-9477.70042 |
| OpenAlex | W7151417866 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 28 |
This article examines the impact of populist governance on state–civil society relations in Sweden, a country traditionally marked by collaborative relations and democratic stability. Focusing on reforms in adult education and international aid under a government supported by a right‐wing populist party, the study explores how these changes are perceived by civil society organizations (CSOs). Drawing on qualitative interviews with CSO representatives, the analysis applies the concept of populist governance—characterized by polarizing communication, state capture, and measures against political opposition. Findings reveal increased control, reduced autonomy, and declining trust in public institutions, with CSOs perceiving politicized funding processes and diminished opportunities for advocacy. While some reforms reflect broader governance trends, the study identifies a shift in the “rules of the game,” suggesting a democratic backsliding. The article contributes to understanding how populist governance manifests in liberal democracies and reshapes the role of civil society in public policy
Civil society · Corporate governance · Democracy · Democratic governance · Government (linguistics) · Perspective (graphical) · Politics · Global Educational Policies and Reforms · Political theory and Gramsci · Populism, Right-Wing Movements
Populist Governance in Brazil
The “Civil Society” Debate in Sweden
The Selective Closure of Civic Space
Contentions over World Culture
Sociology, social theory, and the populist phenomenon
Changing Civic Spaces in the Light of Authoritarian Elements of Politics and the Covid Crisis – The Case of Austria
Populism in power—A comparative analysis of populist governance
Far-Right “Contagion” or a Failing “Mainstream”? How Dangerous Ideas Cross Borders and Blur Boundaries
Politics as organised combat – New players and new rules of the game in Sweden
Governing the Economy Under Populist Rule
The Changing Space for NGOs
On Civil Society Governance
Advocacy Compromised
A red flag for public goods? The correlates of civil society restrictions
Between Policy-oriented Criticism and Structural Opposition — Civil Society Advocacy in the Age of Populism
Theorizing many Europes
Using thematic analysis in psychology
Do Anti‐immigration Parties Matter? The Case of theSwedenDemocrats and Local Refugee Policy
No More Political Compromise? Swedish Commissions of Inquiry 1990–2016
Third sector participation in the policy process
When Do Liberal Governments Restrict Civil Society
Reshaping Alliances and Redrawing Boundaries
Collaborative Governance in Theory and Practice
| Highly cited | No |
|---|