Upplevelser av hat och hot hos nominerade förtroendevalda till det svenska kommunvalet 2022

Abstract

Experiences of Hatred and Threats Among Nominated Elected Representatives in the Swedish Municipal Election 2022

This article examines nominated municipal politicians’ experiences of hatred and threats ahead of Sweden’s 2022 election. We conducted interviews with 14 politicians—both men and women, of varying ages, representing most of the Swedish parliamentary parties. The study focused on four aspects of perceived hatred and threats: extent and location, causes, consequences, and countermeasures. One finding is that location matters—hatred and threats in the physical world are perceived as more frightening than those in the virtual world. Another finding is that party affiliation and policy issues are the primary causes for perceived hatred and threats, potentially leading to a deteriorated discussion climate. A third finding is that politicians express a need to strengthen local politicians’ legal protection, especially regarding their working environment. Finally, we highlight some challenges within the research field concerning what has been studied, how it has been investigated, and how the results are interpreted and presented.