Ett nytt parti... : Migrationspolitikens utveckling sedan Sverigedemokraterna blev riksdagsparti

Sammanfattning

The following essay aims to investigate how the migration policies of the two historically biggest mainstream parties in Sweden, Socialdemokraterna and Moderaterna, have evolved following the establishment of the radical right party, Sverigedemokraterna, in the Swedish parliament. This is attained through examining the party manifestos published by these parties during the election-years following the period between 2006 and 2022 in order to present how the parties position themselves in relation to Sverigedemokraterna. This is done using categories derived from Meguids (2005) modified spatial theory. Moderaterna is concluded to have had an dismissive approach towards Sverigedemokraternas migration policies, which were charactarized by harsh criticism towards the current migration policies, in 2006. Moderaterna later on adopted a more adversarial approach in 2010 and 2014 but have since 2018 adopted a more accomodative position. Socialdemokraterna was concluded to have had an adversarial approach in 2006 but have since 2010, with the exception of 2018 when the party expressed a more adversarial position in regards to Sverigedemokraternas migration policies, been characterized by a dismissive approach. However, the results demonstrate that the migration policies of both Moderaterna and Socialdemokraterna overall have moved closer to Sverigedemokraternas.