Changes in the Politicisation of Religion in Scandinavian Parliamentary Debates 1988–2019

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to examine possible changes in the politicisation of religion in Scandinavia over time in records from parliamentary debates in Denmark, Norway and Sweden 1988–1989, 1998–1999, 2008–2009 and 2018–2019. The study shows that religion and especially Islam continue to be highly politicised in Denmark and Sweden, with the right-wing populist parties as a driving force. However, changes in the party systems may have contributed to changes in the politicisation of religion. In the Danish parliament, the right-wing populist Danish People’s Party has faced growing competition when religion has been politicised through increasing problematisation, which may have contributed to the party’s major loss of voters in the 2019 election. In contrast, religion has been politicised to a lesser degree in the Norwegian parliament, possibly due to the fact that the right-wing populist Progress Party was part of the government at the time and therefore was expected to take on a higher degree of compromises.