De lojala Sverigedemokraterna : En intervjustudie av partikulturen i Sverigedemokraternas riksdagsgrupp utifrån kollektiva självbilder och normer

Political parties can be seen as miniature societies with distinct cultures that shape cohesion, internal conflict, scope for action, and change over time. Knowledge of party culture is thereforecruical for understanding the conditions for parliamentary work beyond formal organisational structures. While previous research has examined the party cultures of most Swedish parliamentary parties, knowledge of the Sweden Democrats' (SD) party culture remains limited. This study therefore examines SD's party culture by focusing on collective self-images and norms within its parliamentary group, based on interviews with eleven MPs. To capture the party's distinct culture, four analytical dimensions are applied: political ability, sense of political responsibility, social cohesion, and the party's strenght in relation to its members. The results show that SD's party culture is characterized by an anti-establishment stance combined with an emphasis on political maturity, reflecting the leadership's efforts to increase the party's credibility and political influence. Loyalty emerges as a central trait, directed towards the parliamentary group, the leadership, and the party's core values. By examining SD's party culture, the study contributes to understanding the cultural logics shaping the parliamentary group and demonstrates how a cultural perspective enhances understandingof the internal life of political parties. The results also suggest that party culture matters for how parties position themselves relative to other parliamentary parties.