A Pragmatic No : - An ideational Analysis of the Sweden Democrats´Euroskepticism

This study investigates the development of the Sweden Democrats´ positions on the European Union between 2014 and 2024. By conducting an ideational analysis of the party´s election manifestos, the study explores how the party´s euroscepticism has shifted over time and how these shifts can be understood through the ideal types of hard and soft euroscepticism. In addition, the study applies Strom`s theory of party strategies to explain the underlying strategic motivations behind these changes. The results show a clear transition from hard, system-critical euroscepticism in 2014 to a more pragmatic, soft form in 2024, reflecting the partys increasing institutional ambitions. This study contributes to research on party-based euroscepticism by demonstrating how ideological positions are reformulated in response to changing political roles and strategic goals.