The logo of the Swedish Security Service (link to homepage)
 

The history of the White Power scene in Sweden

The ideological origins of the White Power scene in Sweden go back more than 100 years, but the main influences largely come from British and American subcultures that originated in the 1980s.
The White Power scene in Sweden traces its ideological roots back to the anti-democratic and anti-Semitic conservatism that emerged in the early 1900s, and culminated in the Fascist and Nazi regimes and movements of the 1920s and 1930s. However, today´s White Power scene has rather more in common with the skinhead movement that came from the UK in the 1980s than it does with early National Socialistic movements. The American White Power movement has been another important influence.

A large part of the influence from the British scene has come from Ian Stuart Donaldson, singer in the White Power band Skrewdriver. His initiative Rock Against Communism led to the creation of a modern White Power movement, where parties and concerts replaced more traditional forums like speeches and rallies. Rock music and clothes are today in many ways more important ways to communicate ideology than for instance Mein Kampf.

The Swedish White Power group Rock mot kommunism (Rock Against Communism) was formed in Södertälje in November 1986, and arranged its first concert on Sweden´s National Day the following year. By 1996, about fifty White Power bands had been formed around the country.

The main influence from the American White Power movement has been a shift in focus from establishing political parties to organising groups of resistance. This goes back to a belief that immigration will eventually lead to a global war between races and that preparation for this war is paramount.

Influences from the American White Power movement have also resulted in attempts to reach a wider audience by downplaying the ties to National Socialism and focusing instead on issues concerning immigration.

Updated: 2010-07-28

Regional activities

Map of Sweden with the Security Services regional units and the counties they are responsible for marked out
Five regional units with regional offices across the country are responsible for the Service's activities in a number of counties.

To contact details for the regional units

|  Säkerhetspolisen  |  P.O. Box 12312  | SE-102 28 Stockholm  |  Phone: +46 10 568 70 00  |  Fax: +46 10 568 70 10  |  E-mail: securityservice@securityservice.se  | The Website |