Back to the Future

Abstract

Sweden's election of September 1994 returned Ingvar Carlsson's Social Democrats to power following three years of non-socialist coalition government. After a deep recession, observers wondered whether the electoral volatility apparent in 1991, chiefly in Social Democratic losses and New Democracy's arrival, would continue. Moreover, long-established bloc politics was questioned by the governing Liberals entertaining a possible post-election coalition with Carlsson's party. However, the 1994 election results - the Social Democrats' victory (despite an uncertain campaign), the eclipse of New Democracy, the centre parties' decline and the strengthening of the Moderates - seemed to signal bloc politics' continuing salience.