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Of Foreign or Domestic Origin? Swedish media reporting on election interference in connection with the 2022 Swedish general election

  • Journal of the Scandinavian Society of Korea
  • Abbr : JSSK
  • 2022, (30), pp.41-74
  • Publisher : The Scandinavian Society of Korea
  • Research Area : Social Science > Area Studies > North Europe(Scandinavian)
  • Received : December 19, 2022
  • Accepted : January 12, 2023
  • Published : December 31, 2022

Emma Ricknell 1

1Linnaeus University

Accredited

ABSTRACT

Election interference poses a threat to nations around the world. Potential negative effects include depressed public participation in the political process and elections, artificially exaggerated polarization among different groups in society and a decrease in trust among voters for the election system and in the long run, democracy itself. While different forms of interference in the election process is not a new phenomenon, the advent of the Internet has facilitated interference via digital means, originating either outside the nation’s borders or from within. Sweden is no exception to being a subject of attempts of election interference, even though its election system is generally regarded as trustworthy and of a high standard. This study focuses on the 2022 Swedish election and the perceived threats of electoral interference via digital means, as well as claims of interference having taken place, as discussed in Swedish media. The results show that while Swedish media reported on both threats ahead of the election, as well as claims of different forms of interference having taken place, the integrity of Sweden’s election system seems to have remained intact. Of primary concern are issues that can be connected with attempts of interference that have a domestic angle, pertaining primarily to the spread of disinformation online about alleged election fraud.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.