Sweden Democrats’⁤ ‘White Book’ Details Nationalist Origins, Party⁢ Role

⁣ Updated ‍June 29, 2025

A nearly 900-page “white book” released ​Thursday by the Sweden Democrats traces the ⁣party’s history‌ from its nationalist beginnings in 1989 to its entry into ⁢parliament in 2010. The report sheds light on the party’s early role and ⁤evolution.

The report reveals that many of the Sweden‍ Democrats’ original leaders ​came ‌from Bevara ⁢Sverige Svenskt (Keep Sweden Swedish), described as a racist, right-wing extremist organization. A third of the party’s founding members in 1989 had ties to Swedish⁤ fascist movements,the document states.

until ​the mid-1990s, ⁤the Sweden Democrats maintained a distinctly ethnonationalist ideology, often referring to political opponents as “the enemy.” Targets⁤ included‌ internationalists​ (often ​a reference‍ to‍ Jewish ​people), political adversaries,⁢ and immigrants,⁤ who were seen as a threat to ⁤cultural⁢ and ethnic homogeneity, according to historian Tony Gustafsson, who ⁣authored the report.

Despite efforts to distance themselves from discussions about race in 1993,the ​party maintained ⁤connections to⁤ right-wing extremist organizations. Throughout the 1990s, the party published antisemitic‌ material, and many members belonged to⁣ groups like Vitt‌ ariskt ⁣motstånd (White Arian ‌Resistance) and‍ Nordiska rikspartiet (The Nordic⁤ Realm Party), a‌ nazi party founded in ​the 1950s. Vitt ariskt ⁣motstånd also served as unofficial security at some of the Sweden Democrats’ largest demonstrations.

The party’s youth organization, SDU, founded in 1992, displayed “militant ⁤tendencies” ⁤and ​engaged in “confrontational ‌street activism,” according to the report.Members embraced antisemitic white power music, glorified racial war, expressed hatred toward homosexuality, and praised the ku Klux Klan and the Holocaust.

In ⁤1995, Anders Klarström, who had ‍a‍ background in the Nordiska rikspartiet, ⁢was replaced‌ by⁣ Mikael Jansson⁢ as ‍party ​leader, initiating a period of change. ⁤The party banned Nazi-related symbols and uniforms at demonstrations and‍ began⁢ internal discussions about‍ removing “Nazi dregs.” The youth organization was reformed​ and integrated into⁤ the Sweden Democrats.

Jimmie Åkesson, the current ⁣party ⁣leader, joined in the mid-1990s,⁢ and Gustafsson notes that the party’s transformation is ⁤ongoing.⁣ Between⁤ 1992 ⁣and 2010, 130 ⁣individuals were expelled from the party, with expulsions ⁤from 1995 onward based on ideological ⁢grounds. Those who​ made racist or‌ antisemitic statements ‌or had contact with ⁣antidemocratic groups​ were removed.

In response to the “white book,” Åkesson apologized for the ‌party’s history at the Almedalen political festival. Though, Morgan Finnsiö, a researcher from anti-racist magazine Expo, criticized the ‌apology, arguing that antisemitism remains a problem within the Sweden⁢ Democrats. Finnsiö told Dagens Nyheter that many Jews in Sweden still fear⁣ the party’s links to right-wing extremism, ‍noting ⁢that candidates with ties to the Swedish white power movement ⁣have⁤ been revealed in nearly ‍every election since ‌the party’s founding.

Christer ⁤Mattsson, a researcher at Gothenburg University’s Segerstedt Institute, ⁣described the report as ⁢”a genuine academic document,” telling SVT that it ⁢included information he was unsure would be included. He emphasized that the report highlights the‍ lasting influence of national socialism,⁢ antisemitism, and race ideology on the party’s people, activities, and institutions.

Mattsson told SVT, “There were sediments of racial ideology, Nazism and‌ antisemitism⁢ in the early party, which were expressed by ‌different people and ⁢affected the party’s internal and external activities.” He⁢ added ​that extreme views could be expressed despite⁢ not being officially sanctioned by the‍ party.

In an interview with the TT newswire,‍ Mattsson noted the document’s detail but⁣ said it lacked analysis. “The engaging thing ​is what you do with this information,what‌ has come forth,” he said.

What’s next

The Sweden Democrats face continued⁢ scrutiny ‌regarding their past ⁢and present connections to extremist ideologies ⁤as thay navigate⁢ their role in Swedish politics.