Swedish Local Democracy at the Crossroads
As democratic systems come under increasing strain worldwide, assessing their strength and resilience is more urgent than ever. Some argue that local democracy can serve as a bulwark against democratic backsliding—providing institutional resilience, political diversity, and grounded arenas for citizen engagement. But to fulfil this role, it must itself be strong, accountable, and responsive. Swedish Local Democracy at the Crossroads makes the case for continuous, systematic evaluation of democratic institutions at the local level and introduces a structured framework for doing so.
Applying this framework to Sweden—one of the world’s most decentralised countries—the book offers the most comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of Swedish local democracy available in English. Swedish municipalities are key actors in delivering welfare services, upholding political legitimacy, and maintaining citizen trust. Yet they increasingly face rising demands, institutional ambiguity, and weakened party structures that challenge their ability to govern effectively.
Grounded in historical context and detailed empirical analysis, the book explores enduring tensions and outlines potential pathways for reform. It examines core dimensions such as representation, participation, institutional design, and the evolving relationship between politicians and bureaucrats. While centred on the Swedish experience, its insights extend well beyond national borders and will appeal to researchers, students, policymakers, and practitioners concerned with democratic governance and institutional renewal.
Gissur Ó Erlingsson is Professor of Political Science at Linköping University, Sweden.
David Karlsson is Professor of Public Administration at University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Richard Öhrvall is Assistant Professor at the Centre for Local Government Studies, Linköping University, Sweden.
Jessika Wide is Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science, Umeå University, Sweden.
