Peer-reviewed article
Guardians of Democracy? On Civil Society Organizations’ Responses to Right Wing Extremism
2021Lundberg, E.Scandinavian Political Studies
What is this study about?
The study examines how civil society organizations respond when a right-wing extremist movement establishes itself and becomes visible in the local community. Using Ludvika and the presence of the Nordic Resistance Movement as a case, it analyses how local organizations relate to the right-wing extremism and what forms of resistance and other reactions develop. The study thereby tests the notion of civil society as a possible "guardian of democracy" when democratic values are challenged.
What did we find?
The study shows that civil society mobilized in several different ways in response to the presence of the Nordic Resistance Movement. Organizations used, among other things, manifestations, advocacy and other activities to take a stand against the right-wing extremism and defend democratic values. At the same time, the study shows that civil society's reactions cannot be understood as a single coordinated response. The resistance took different forms and built on different ways of relating to the right-wing extremist presence.
Why does it matter?
Civil society is often assigned an important role in upholding democratic norms and mobilizing citizens when democracy is challenged. The study shows how this role can take concrete form at the local level when a right-wing extremist movement establishes itself. At the same time, it problematizes the notion of civil society as a self-evident and unified "guardian of democracy". Civil society's democratic significance lies not only in organizations reacting, but also in how they mobilize people and create different forms of resistance against anti-democratic forces.
Citation
Lundberg, E. (2021) Guardians of Democracy? On Civil Society Organizations’ Responses to Right Wing Extremism. Scandinavian Political Studies 44(2) 170–194
Research area
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