Upperclass vs underclass Safari in Stockholm.Feb 2012.A new action plan against extremism by the government wrongly suggests that a number of extra-parliamentary movements are prone to violence. In doing so, its guidelines risk having a negative influence on young people’s trust in democratic engagement. Civil disobedience is not the same as violent extremism, fifteen leading academics say (see below for the signatories).
In two commentaries published in Dagens Nyheter some of the signatories criticized the most recent government report on violent activism. Their criticism addressed among other things suggestions that teachers and educators should be transformed into officers policing opinion. This, they say, risks undermining young people’s belief in democracy, by placing a question mark next to the most fundamental democratic rights in Sweden.
Now that the report has been translated into practical guidelines, published online and inviting discussion, we can confirm that the fears raised by these critics are fully realised. Parts of the instructions that the Swedish state is sending to teachers, educators and other citizens who are in touch with young people seem flagrantly hostile to democracy. The guidelines addressing everybody working with or otherwise in contact with young people are published as part of the Government’s national action plan for protecting democracy against violent extremism, initiated by the previous minister for democracy Birgitta Olsson and now directed by Mona Sahlin. The material is meant to help unveil signs of violent extremism among young people (even before any violent actions are executed), but also as a tool to develop different responses.
