Scandinavian Political Studies
@scandpolstud.bsky.social
The leading journal on politics and public administration in the Nordic countries
How does mediatization affect the norms and everyday practices of civil servants? Media logic not only demands communication skills but also penetrates the internal culture of the civil service. Read more in Mediatization of the Danish Central Government, doi.org/10.1111/1467....
doi.org
November 27, 2025 at 8:44 AM
How does mediatization affect the norms and everyday practices of civil servants? Media logic not only demands communication skills but also penetrates the internal culture of the civil service. Read more in Mediatization of the Danish Central Government, doi.org/10.1111/1467....
Does proportional distribution of office payoffs between coalition partners hold at the local level? And the radical right? Read more in Gamson's Law in the City Hall: The Populist Radical Right and the Dilemma of Allocating Municipal Portfolios in Sweden. @mariusperrin.bsky.social
Gamson's Law in the City Hall: The Populist Radical Right and the Dilemma of Allocating Municipal Portfolios in Sweden
Does the proportional distribution of office payoffs between coalition partners, known as ‘Gamson's Law’, hold at the local level? And can the inclusion of a populist radical right (PRR) party in a c...
doi.org
November 25, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Does proportional distribution of office payoffs between coalition partners hold at the local level? And the radical right? Read more in Gamson's Law in the City Hall: The Populist Radical Right and the Dilemma of Allocating Municipal Portfolios in Sweden. @mariusperrin.bsky.social
How does elite communication affect perceptions of conflict? For political leaders, it is apparently easier to fan the flames of conflict than to put out the fire. See the new article Asymmetric Influence: Politicians Can Fuel but Not Dampen Conflict, doi.org/10.1111/1467....
Asymmetric Influence: Politicians Can Fuel but Not Dampen Conflict
Research from the deeply polarized United States suggests that the impact of elite communication is asymmetrical: antagonistic messages often heighten divisions, while positive appeals fail to dampen...
doi.org
November 24, 2025 at 8:12 AM
How does elite communication affect perceptions of conflict? For political leaders, it is apparently easier to fan the flames of conflict than to put out the fire. See the new article Asymmetric Influence: Politicians Can Fuel but Not Dampen Conflict, doi.org/10.1111/1467....
Is maintaining food production levels and economic sustainability more fundamental than introducing new animal welfare measures? Read more on conflicting policies and diverse narratives in Narratives in the Farm Animal Welfare Policy Process, doi.org/10.1111/1467....
Narratives in the Farm Animal Welfare Policy Process
Traditional boundaries between policy areas are being challenged as farm animal welfare raises controversies. In this article we use data from the consultation process for a new white paper from the ...
doi.org
November 13, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Is maintaining food production levels and economic sustainability more fundamental than introducing new animal welfare measures? Read more on conflicting policies and diverse narratives in Narratives in the Farm Animal Welfare Policy Process, doi.org/10.1111/1467....
How do political groups produce, value, and judge knowledge? And how does that conform with such knowledge connected with other political groups? Read more in The Epistemic Habits of Danish Populists: Objectivity, Legitimacy and Evidence, doi.org/10.1111/1467....
The Epistemic Habits of Danish Populists: Objectivity, Legitimacy and Evidence
Epistemic conflicts and disagreements characterise our political debates, as consensus surrounding what qualifies as legitimate knowledge in political settings becomes increasingly difficult to maint....
doi.org
November 12, 2025 at 9:02 AM
How do political groups produce, value, and judge knowledge? And how does that conform with such knowledge connected with other political groups? Read more in The Epistemic Habits of Danish Populists: Objectivity, Legitimacy and Evidence, doi.org/10.1111/1467....
In Iceland, those who rely on social media are found to be highly interested in politics, diverging from patterns elsewhere. Read more in Political News Consumption and Media Source Preferences During Election Campaigns: A Rolling Cross-Sectional Analysis, doi.org/10.1111/1467....
Political News Consumption and Media Source Preferences During Election Campaigns: A Rolling Cross‐Sectional Analysis
This study examines political news consumption patterns among Icelandic voters during the 2021 parliamentary election campaign, tracking developments on a daily basis leading up to election day. Whil....
doi.org
November 12, 2025 at 8:47 AM
In Iceland, those who rely on social media are found to be highly interested in politics, diverging from patterns elsewhere. Read more in Political News Consumption and Media Source Preferences During Election Campaigns: A Rolling Cross-Sectional Analysis, doi.org/10.1111/1467....
High-ranking political aides in Finland are often linked to lobbyism. Read more in Distinct From the Nordic Revolving Door? The Before and Post-Appointment Employment of High-Ranking Political Aides in Finland, by Ville-Pekka Niskanen and Jari Autioniemi, doi.org/10.1111/1467....
Distinct From the Nordic Revolving Door? The Before and Post‐Appointment Employment of High‐Ranking Political Aides in Finland
The movement of political aides to the Finnish government between businesses or lobbyist organisations and government roles—the revolving door—has been debated since the 2000s. That scrutiny has incl...
doi.org
November 10, 2025 at 4:22 PM
High-ranking political aides in Finland are often linked to lobbyism. Read more in Distinct From the Nordic Revolving Door? The Before and Post-Appointment Employment of High-Ranking Political Aides in Finland, by Ville-Pekka Niskanen and Jari Autioniemi, doi.org/10.1111/1467....
Voters rallied behind the Danish Government at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, but that increased support gradually diminished during the pandemic period. See Kasper M. Hansen’s research note Rally-Round-the-Flag: The Case of COVID-19 in Denmark, doi.org/10.1111/1467....
Rally‐Round‐the‐Flag: The Case of COVID‐19 in Denmark
Rally-round-the-flag describes a situation where voters rally behind their government and leader in the fight against an external enemy. The COVID-19 pandemic was such an external enemy and Danish vo...
doi.org
November 6, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Voters rallied behind the Danish Government at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, but that increased support gradually diminished during the pandemic period. See Kasper M. Hansen’s research note Rally-Round-the-Flag: The Case of COVID-19 in Denmark, doi.org/10.1111/1467....
Does political hypocrisy affect the functioning of democracy? Read The Sole Effect of Double Standards—How Public Scandalization of Political Hypocrisy Influences Citizens' Democratic Trust and Engagement by Silas Harrebye, Anders Ejrnæs and Mark Ørsten, doi.org/10.1111/1467....
The Sole Effect of Double Standards—How Public Scandalization of Political Hypocrisy Influences Citizens' Democratic Trust and Engagement
Political hypocrisy is popularly understood as the discrepancy between what an individual says they believe one ought to do, and what they themselves actually do. Political hypocrisy is thus often li...
doi.org
October 31, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Does political hypocrisy affect the functioning of democracy? Read The Sole Effect of Double Standards—How Public Scandalization of Political Hypocrisy Influences Citizens' Democratic Trust and Engagement by Silas Harrebye, Anders Ejrnæs and Mark Ørsten, doi.org/10.1111/1467....
Are MPs able to influence climate policy in Sweden? Through output structures yes. Less so in terms of influencing the electorate, if the policies involve lifestyle changes. See Swedish Members of Parliament's Perceived Ability to Act on Climate Change, doi.org/10.1111/1467....
Swedish Members of Parliament's Perceived Ability to Act on Climate Change
This study explores how Swedish politicians perceive their ability to influence climate policy in relation to their ideals of political representation. Through in-depth interviews with nine Swedish m...
doi.org
September 11, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Are MPs able to influence climate policy in Sweden? Through output structures yes. Less so in terms of influencing the electorate, if the policies involve lifestyle changes. See Swedish Members of Parliament's Perceived Ability to Act on Climate Change, doi.org/10.1111/1467....
Women’s stronger environmental concern does not mean they are more likely to support climate policies, according to a new study by Henning Finseraas and Charlotte Luckner, Gender and Support for Climate Change Policies: The Case of Offshore Wind Farms, doi.org/10.1111/1467....
Gender and Support for Climate Change Policies: The Case of Offshore Wind Farms
Women express stronger environmental concern and more pro-active climate change attitudes, but whether gender differences translate to gaps in policy preferences is less known. Attitude gaps might no...
doi.org
September 10, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Women’s stronger environmental concern does not mean they are more likely to support climate policies, according to a new study by Henning Finseraas and Charlotte Luckner, Gender and Support for Climate Change Policies: The Case of Offshore Wind Farms, doi.org/10.1111/1467....
Have external crises like Fukushima, the occupation of Crimea and Russia’s attack on Ukraine in 2022 challenged the legitimacy of Finland’s nuclear energy policy? See The Impact of Three Crises on the Hegemony of Finland's Nuclear Power Elite, doi.org/10.1111/1467....
The Impact of Three Crises on the Hegemony of Finland's Nuclear Power Elite
Finland is a homogenous corporatist country characterised by a tight-knit, consensus-seeking nuclear power elite that has had a close relationship with Russia for decades. The Finnish nuclear power e...
doi.org
September 6, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Have external crises like Fukushima, the occupation of Crimea and Russia’s attack on Ukraine in 2022 challenged the legitimacy of Finland’s nuclear energy policy? See The Impact of Three Crises on the Hegemony of Finland's Nuclear Power Elite, doi.org/10.1111/1467....
Civil society organizations play an important role in shaping climate action through normative governance mechanisms. Read more in Normative Governance for Green Policies: Exploring the Practices of Civil Society by Håkon Solbu Trætteberg and Marte Winsvold, doi.org/10.1111/1467....
Normative Governance for Green Policies: Exploring the Practices of Civil Society
Societal norm formation is crucial in shaping collective action on global challenges such as climate change. This study explores the norm-building role of civil society organizations (CSOs) by examin...
doi.org
September 3, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Civil society organizations play an important role in shaping climate action through normative governance mechanisms. Read more in Normative Governance for Green Policies: Exploring the Practices of Civil Society by Håkon Solbu Trætteberg and Marte Winsvold, doi.org/10.1111/1467....
Can states extend collective wage agreements through the force of law, thus propping up dwindling collective bargaining? Trond Holmen Erlien and Georg Picot @gpicot.bsky.social examine this feature in Norwegian labour market politics and the appears to be positive. doi.org/10.1111/1467....
The Politics of Statutory Extensions of Collective Bargaining in Norway
By extending collective wage agreements through the force of law, states can prop up dwindling collective bargaining. This is a common policy in Continental Europe, but less so in Scandinavia. Norway...
doi.org
August 29, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Can states extend collective wage agreements through the force of law, thus propping up dwindling collective bargaining? Trond Holmen Erlien and Georg Picot @gpicot.bsky.social examine this feature in Norwegian labour market politics and the appears to be positive. doi.org/10.1111/1467....
A small but significant share of surveyed political scientists experience harassment or threats, particularly when engaged in politically sensitive research or public discourse, according to a new study by @arjupskas.bsky.social, Iris B. Segers and @audreygagnon.bsky.social. doi.org/10.1111/1467...
Institutional Responses to Threats and Harassment of Academics: Evidence From a Survey Among Political Scientists in Norway
In an era marked by increasing polarization, academics face growing risks of harassment and threats, particularly when engaging in politically sensitive research or public discourse. This study inves....
doi.org
August 19, 2025 at 1:18 PM
A small but significant share of surveyed political scientists experience harassment or threats, particularly when engaged in politically sensitive research or public discourse, according to a new study by @arjupskas.bsky.social, Iris B. Segers and @audreygagnon.bsky.social. doi.org/10.1111/1467...
How are Nordic municipalities using social media and how engaged are their citizens? Raphaël Zumofen, Vincent Mabillard and Martial Pasquier explore the adoption and use of social media by Nordic municipalities, and citizen engagement using such platforms. doi.org/10.1111/1467...
Citizen Engagement on Social Media Government Pages: Insights From Nordic Municipalities
This article explores the adoption and use of social media at the local level, focusing on how communication managers (or administrators) in Nordic municipalities leverage platforms such as Facebook,...
doi.org
August 11, 2025 at 10:07 AM
How are Nordic municipalities using social media and how engaged are their citizens? Raphaël Zumofen, Vincent Mabillard and Martial Pasquier explore the adoption and use of social media by Nordic municipalities, and citizen engagement using such platforms. doi.org/10.1111/1467...
Entrepreneurship occupies a central position in Finnish policy. But its reality differs starkly from policy expectations and predictions. In this article, Anuhya Bobba analyses strategy documents and argues they advocate market deregulation and stripping labour protections. doi.org/10.1111/1467...
Self‐Reliant Citizens, Market Deregulation, and Labour Flexibility: The Case of Finnish Entrepreneurship Strategy (2000–2022)
Since 2000, entrepreneurship has come to occupy a central position in Finnish policy, praised not simply as a form of work but as a disciplinary ethos that places increased responsibility on the indi...
doi.org
August 8, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Entrepreneurship occupies a central position in Finnish policy. But its reality differs starkly from policy expectations and predictions. In this article, Anuhya Bobba analyses strategy documents and argues they advocate market deregulation and stripping labour protections. doi.org/10.1111/1467...
What makes ministers lose their posts while a government is still in office? Tom Christensen and Per Lægreid examine the ministerial resignation process in terms of accountability concepts, drawing on eight recent examples from Norway. doi.org/10.1111/1467...
Cabinet Turbulence and Political Scandals—Accountability Under Pressure
This article adds to studies of why ministers lose their posts due to political scandals while a government is still in office. It examines the ministerial resignation process in terms of accountabil...
doi.org
August 6, 2025 at 11:06 AM
What makes ministers lose their posts while a government is still in office? Tom Christensen and Per Lægreid examine the ministerial resignation process in terms of accountability concepts, drawing on eight recent examples from Norway. doi.org/10.1111/1467...
Does elite deliberation at the local level live up to the ideals of a deliberative and consensus-oriented model for decision making? Yes, largely it does according to a new study by Sofie Blombäck and Gustav Lidén (@gustavliden.bsky.social) doi.org/10.1111/1467...
Elite Deliberation at the Local Level ‐ Politicians and Civil Servants Reaching Agreements in a Swedish Municipality
This paper studies the introduction of an innovative way of organizing local politics, through a new system for management and governance system in the Swedish municipality Timrå. The study is focuse...
doi.org
June 19, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Does elite deliberation at the local level live up to the ideals of a deliberative and consensus-oriented model for decision making? Yes, largely it does according to a new study by Sofie Blombäck and Gustav Lidén (@gustavliden.bsky.social) doi.org/10.1111/1467...
Drawing on Norway‘s EU referendum, Troy Saghaug Broderstad, Sveinung Arnesen, Mikael P. Johannesson and Jonas Linde conclude there is an elite-citizen procedural congruence when it comes to the legitimacy of majority-rule procedure. See the full article here: doi.org/10.1111/1467...
Trustees, Delegates, and Direct Democracy: Exploring Mass‐Elite Incongruence in Perceptions of Advisory Referendums
Previous research has demonstrated that the legitimacy of a majority-rule procedure, as perceived by the general population, is dependent on turnout, the size of the majority, and the favourability o...
doi.org
June 11, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Drawing on Norway‘s EU referendum, Troy Saghaug Broderstad, Sveinung Arnesen, Mikael P. Johannesson and Jonas Linde conclude there is an elite-citizen procedural congruence when it comes to the legitimacy of majority-rule procedure. See the full article here: doi.org/10.1111/1467...
Do predispositions—such as beliefs, attitudes and biases—shape misperceptions about immigration and immigrants? Not according to a new study by Rasmus Sandy Harboesgaard Nielsen, Karen N. Breidahl and Troels Fage Hedegaard. Nor does self-reported knowledge. doi.org/10.1111/1467...
The Link Between Individual Predispositions and Misperceptions About Immigrants: Insights From Denmark
Misperceptions about immigration and immigrants are widespread throughout the Western world. A common explanation for this prevalence, relying on motivated reasoning theory, stresses the role of pred...
doi.org
June 4, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Do predispositions—such as beliefs, attitudes and biases—shape misperceptions about immigration and immigrants? Not according to a new study by Rasmus Sandy Harboesgaard Nielsen, Karen N. Breidahl and Troels Fage Hedegaard. Nor does self-reported knowledge. doi.org/10.1111/1467...
Did you know that SPS is accepting proposals for virtual issues?
All details and instructions can be found on our website at onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1467....
All details and instructions can be found on our website at onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1467....
Scandinavian Political Studies
Click on the title to browse this journal
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
May 14, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Did you know that SPS is accepting proposals for virtual issues?
All details and instructions can be found on our website at onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1467....
All details and instructions can be found on our website at onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1467....
How do personality traits shape individuals‘ willingness to participate in deliberations? Marina Lindell and Kim Strandberg examine how the Big Five personality traits shape individuals‘ willingness to participate in deliberation. See the full article here: doi.org/10.1111/1467...
The Deliberative Type? How Different Personalities Prefer and Experience Public Deliberation
Personality significantly affects political attitudes and behaviours, yet its role in deliberative participation remains underexplored. This study examines how the Big Five personality traits shape i....
doi.org
May 14, 2025 at 8:58 AM
How do personality traits shape individuals‘ willingness to participate in deliberations? Marina Lindell and Kim Strandberg examine how the Big Five personality traits shape individuals‘ willingness to participate in deliberation. See the full article here: doi.org/10.1111/1467...
Is the Swedish Parliament a racialized workplace? Matilda Albertsson and Josefina Erikson examine how MPs in Sweden with immigrant backgrounds experience discrimination in their parlimentary work, racialized or gendered. See the full article here: doi.org/10.1111/1467...
Racism and Gender in the Parliamentary Workplace: Insight Into Immigrant Background MPs' Experiences of Discrimination in Sweden
Numerous studies have explored MPs' opportunities to participate in politics from a gendered perspective. Still, a much smaller number of studies have focused on parliamentarians' immigrant backgroun...
doi.org
April 25, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Is the Swedish Parliament a racialized workplace? Matilda Albertsson and Josefina Erikson examine how MPs in Sweden with immigrant backgrounds experience discrimination in their parlimentary work, racialized or gendered. See the full article here: doi.org/10.1111/1467...
Social trust and crises. Ali Abdelzadeh and T. Sedelius @sedelius.bsky.social examine the dynamics of social trust and its interaction with different fears during the COVID-19 pandemic, using a three-wave longitudinal dataset from Sweden (2020-2022). See the full article at doi.org/10.1111/1467...
Fears, Pandemic, and the Shaping of Social Trust: A Three‐Wave Panel Study in Sweden
This study examines the dynamics of social trust and its interaction with different fears during the COVID-19 pandemic, using a three-wave longitudinal dataset from Sweden (2020-2022). We investigate...
doi.org
April 23, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Social trust and crises. Ali Abdelzadeh and T. Sedelius @sedelius.bsky.social examine the dynamics of social trust and its interaction with different fears during the COVID-19 pandemic, using a three-wave longitudinal dataset from Sweden (2020-2022). See the full article at doi.org/10.1111/1467...