What Is Christian about (Swedish) Christian Democrats?

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(OPINION) Christian Democrats (Kristdemokraterna) is the second largest party in the current Government of Sweden (and sixth in the Swedish Parliament).

Given the insistence of this party that it is based on Christian values, it is worth exploring what those values are, is there a coherent set of ideas that this party stands for, and how these values and ideas relate to something we could meaningfully call Christianity.

There are certain things that CD say they stand for, one could easily agree with. For instance, I agree with Ebba Busch, Deputy Prime Minister, when she says that “our country has taken a turn in the wrong direction.” These words appear on a promotional leaflet available from CD’s website.

One can also agree with the observation of Ms. Busch, that “Government policy has driven up the costs of fuel and electricity, not only hurting households, but also causing an agricultural crisis with soaring food prices as a result.” Indeed, both under the previous, and even more under the current government in which CD is the second largest coalition member, the inflation has reached new heights and food prices have soared even more.

In the explanation of its principles and ideology, available from the party’s website, CD state that they highly value “human dignity and family, and oppose all forms of totalitarianism.”

Thumbs up!

We also read that “every human being is a goal in themselves… each person is unique, but needs community and other people in order to live and develop.”

Thumbs up, again!

There’s another part of the program which I really like, and that is a recognition of human imperfection:

“No one is perfect, everyone can make mistakes… The realization of this imperfection makes us… strive for power sharing so that individual people or groups do not acquire too much power… Christian Democrats also believe that it is impossible to create a perfect kingdom of happiness here on Earth. This idea of imperfection also makes us realize that everyone can make mistakes, and that everyone deserves a second chance.”

These are very humane sections that every humanist and especially Christians should support.

In addition to this, we also read that CD are

“against the negative aspects of the consumer society… [which has led] to irresponsible socio-economic management, with the poisoning of air, water and soil as a result.” The positive values, principles and ideas are concluded by the words: “We want to protect the life, freedom and dignity of all people… We want to stand in solidarity with the weak and oppressed, strive for social justice… [creation of] a fair distribution of good things in society.” This is what CD call “the principle of solidarity.”

Then come the more problematic parts of the program and the proclaimed values.

In the explanation of their economic policy and taxes, we find that CD stand for lower taxes. The leaflet I referred above is more explicit about CD’s economic ideals: “We believe in liberty and free market, while taking responsibility for our fellow man [sic!].”

How one affirms the (Neo) liberal ideology of “free market” while, at the same time, claiming to be committed to human dignity, community, and social justice? How can one be against consumer society and the negative effect that capitalist exploitation (under the banner of “free market”) has had on the environment, and be in favor of right-wing economic policies?

Something does not add up in this equation.

CD are proud to point out (in the same leaflet) that “when other alliance parties started to veer to the left, we stood firm.”

They “prioritize what is most important — healthcare, security, and heartland” and yet they promote Neoliberal liberalizations that have been destroying welfare systems around the globe. They believe in “liberty and free market” and yet they are against liberalism and socialism (“Both liberalism and socialism are striving to achieve a utopian society”).

They depict themselves as “community builders” and yet they support economic policies that destroy communities (especially the most vulnerable social groups). They support political decisions that are highly divisive and that have been reached contrary to basic democratic principles (e.g. the decision to abandon centuries-long Swedish neutrality, in favor of joining the NATO alliance).

They say they support liberty, and yet they also support the government’s cooperation with President Erdogan on the extradition of asylum seekers.

CD also supported the new legislation which significantly diminishes the freedom of the press and the freedom of expression, bearing a strong anti-democratic mark. The legislation (adopted on November 16, 2022, and in force from January 1, 2023) creates “new crimes of ‘foreign espionage’, ‘aggravated foreign espionage’, and ‘disclosing secret information in international cooperation," according to a report in The Local. This, following the same report, “means that it could be a punishable crime in some situations to disclose secret information which comes about as a result of Sweden’s international cooperation which could harm Sweden’s relationships to another country or international organisation.”

While the previous law required that secret information must directly harm Sweden’s security, “Under the new law, it is enough for it to damage relations with another country.”

Moreover, concerns were raised that “the new law will allow police to investigate publishers, journalists and whistleblowers if they expose secret or sensitive information that may damage Sweden’s relationship with another state or an international organization, such as the NATO, European Union (EU), or the United Nations (UN). If such allegations are ‘proved,’ sentences of up to four years can be given for publicizing sensitive information,” according to a report on Peoples Dispatch. It has been recognized that the new law will be “detrimental to freedom of the press and speech, and likely to adversely affect whistleblowers, journalists, and responsible publishers in the country,” according to the Peoples Dispatch.

This collection of contradictions, vague statements, both noble principles and anti-democratic policies that are detrimental to freedoms and rights, indicate that the writers of CD programs and goals are either ignorant of what they talk about, of what particular political concepts mean, the complex history behind them, as well as of the consequences of certain policies they advocate, or they are simply technocratic hypocrites, who will say anything that sounds nice to cover-up what seems to be their real commitment — the acquisition of power, the imposition of savage Neoliberal policies, commitment to militarism and a disregard for human and civic freedoms and rights.

Yes, Ms. Busch is right about the turn “in the wrong direction,” but it seems that Sweden has taken more than one wrong turn — with the falling living standards for most of the people, diminishing level of education, resulting in an ever-growing decline in competence and critical thinking skills, and with the rise of radical right-wing political options that threaten democracy.

Dr. Davor Džalto is Professor of Religion and Democracy at University College Stockholm. He is also President of The Institute for the Study of Culture and Christianity. His most recent books include Beyond Capitalist Dystopia: Rethinking Freedom and Democracy in the Age of Global Crises(2022), and Anarchy and the Kingdom of God: From Eschatology to Orthodox Christian Political Theology and Back (2021).