Book review: So, was the policy of blocs to flockpolitik

Hanne Kjöller has written a chronicle of a death foretold. The victim in question is the logic of blocs. The perpetrator's identity is for us, the readers a matter of course, but represents, nonetheless, a surprise for those involved.

Kjöller as everyday is a columnist at this magazine, has compiled an account of important events in Sweden's political life between the fall of 2014 and winter of 2018/19. Thus, from the Decemberöverenskommelse to Januariavtal. In parallel, she has been talking with leading politicians and political operators. Respondents can express themselves anonymously which proves to be a great advantage. The interviewees tend namely to say what they actually think. The book's title is: ”block policy death. The term of office that changed Sweden”. Thus is krönikans three interconnected themes given: migration policies, the sweden democrats ' rise and the impossibility to form a stable government in a new parliamentary reality.

Kjöllers statement is not edifying for the svagsinte.

Initially, all participants agreed that Sweden shall behave in a manner befitting a humanitarian great power, and the SD shall be kept short.

the christian democrat Göran Hägglund notes with concern already when the trip anträds:

”it Is obvious that we will never see the decision on restrictions on the right to asylum? I do not think that there is no such vaccine. We see the voting figures. We read the e-mails flowing in. We hear how the talk around the fikaborden.”

in Reality, the people have not the sense to behave.

public Opinion is in a different place than where the rulers are. The integration does not work. Flyktinginvandringen located on a private plane compared to other western countries. The difficulties pile up and are treated by the rulers with elevated moralising. Such hubris must be according to dramaturgins rules get their rightful punishment.

And the punishment is in the worst possible way. In the form of Jimmie Åkesson.

The sweden democrats to a lesser extent as the Hin håles representatives on earth, and more like a polished political entrepreneurs. Among other things, they have recognized the mediesamhällets dialectics: in a time of general dissatisfaction is the negative criticism from the establishment isn't something bad, but something good. In november 2015 crash the whole thing.

the End of Kjöllers history – the formation of the government 2018/19 – won't come as a surprise, even for the people involved. It is impossible to form a stable government. The logic of blocs is dead. Rather than breaking out a hundratrettio days long Feydeau-farce with a touch of the doors, upset but fake feelings, a president in the nightcap and the party hidden in the closet.

Then the country is ruled in a way so that no one can or need to take responsibility. The government will implement the other party's policies. Parts of the opposition have written to the government programme. Voters vote civilly, but the social democrats remain. Parliamentary elections proves to only be an advisory referendum. The empire controlled, but barely.

in compiling this turn of events. Already to arrange the political utspelen in chronological order means the beginning of a statement.

Yet, in all this a remarkable inability to see the obvious. The substance is block policy death. The migration policy is the common thread. The idea is that the contradictions of migration policy in no way destroys the logic of blocs and throwing the country out of the parliamentary chaos and that this is a big loss.

But the logic of blocs that practice has been dead a long time ago.

All the decent parties has been agreed.

What we have seen in the migration policy is not the policy of blocs without flockpolitik. Parliamentary functioning is destroyed because no one wants to be opposition.

the most respected editorial writers, well-known to never sing with the angels, but to say that it is. Her tart comments in this book we also recognise and appreciate. But there are shortcomings in the analysis. She is subject in high degree to a collective ”we” that turns out to include the political class, its observers and pr-masseurs. The presentation takes place in a ostkupa where life outside in the best case gives to know through the opinion polls. Kjöller doesn't take a step outside and can not therefore relax the firm grip on his subject.

When the logic of blocs to eventually depart in the parliament, it has long since been avsomnad in the practical politics. It is the lack of policy of blocs that transforms migration into a parliamentary minefield. At that point, recalls the sequence of other disasters over the past quarter century. All the powers were agreed. Everything would be so good. Still, it went awry.

in other words: just because of that.

Kjöller says that with the block policy hädangång, required a constitutional reform for the country shall be governed and accountability. The idea is likable. A more likely development is that the bourgeois parties bites the head of shame, and that the relationship with the SD is normalized. Populist/racist/fascist SD has succeeded with the performance to move arbetarklassväljare from left to right. Kjöller suggests in one of the book's key sentences that the displacement is permanent.

that has been damaged in the process. From a stable parliamentary system where it's easy to enforce accountability, to an unstable system where the responsibility is diffused. Unclear what conclusions they will draw about democracy.

And it is not the villain in the story who is the culprit. The perpetrator behind the block policy death at a significantly closer range.

Kjöllers chronicle provides the answers.

With joint forces they managed to established parties turn a nationalistic sect to a wide parliamentary party. Patiently built the victim of his own slayer.