Speaking freely or staying silent? Self-censorship and democratic discontent in Sweden

This article examines the prevalence and patterns of self-censorship in Sweden – widely regarded as one of the world’s leading democracies – against the backdrop of global autocratization. While self-censorship is often studied in authoritarian contexts, we explore its occurrence in a democratic setting that has almost no formal constraints on free expression. Drawing on original survey data, we identify the individual-level factors associated with self-censorship, and we assess its variation across social contexts and issue areas. We find that self-censorship is both widespread and politically patterned. It is most common among individuals on the political right – especially sympathizers with the Sweden Democrats – as well as among persons who perceive immigration as a threat, who have low interpersonal or institutional trust, and who are strongly interested in politics. Self-censorship is most prevalent on social media, but it is also found in workplaces, educational settings, and personal relationships. The topic of immigration and integration is the one most often avoided, reflecting the polarized nature of public discourse on this question in Sweden. These results highlight how informal pressures – not just formal censorship – can narrow public discourse and suppress dissent, with potential consequences for democratic resilience and pluralism.