The cordon sanitaire: a social norm-based model

ABSTRACT

This paper is on cordons sanitaires – coordinated refusals to collaborate with a given political party on principle – and the behaviours associated with it. I argue that, once established, the cordon is properly classified and analysed as a social meta-norm, rather than a mere strategy (the common classification in the literature). First, I examine the merits of a mere strategy model, and conclude that a cordon may well be instituted for strategic reasons, but that aspects of party behaviour are not well accounted for within this model. Second, I show that once established, the cordon is best classified as a social norm, and I discuss the empirical and theoretical implications of this. Finally, I illustrate these theoretical points, through the example of the isolated Sweden Democrats (SD) at the local level. Conceptualizing the cordon sanitaire as a social norm, rather than as a strategy gives new insights into the conditions under which it is complied with, violated, and enforced through sanctions. It also provides an explanation for previously puzzling outcomes, such as the failure of mainstream parties to abandon the cordon once it proves ineffective in limiting the challenger’s growth and influence.

Acknowledgements

I am grateful to the Center for Research on Extremism (C-REX) for providing valuable feedback when I presented a draft of this article at their seminar on parties and movements. I am also thankful to Sarah Abel, Fred Paxton and Hanspeter Kriesi for reading and commenting on earlier versions of this article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1 We should note that the cordon sanitaire is distinct from the norm against voting for the Sweden Democrats in elections. They are, however, both meta-norms tied to the same primary norm against having prejudiced political views. Hence, a breakdown of one meta-norm may foreshadow a breakdown of the other, since it signals a change in the strength, strictness or standards of applicability of the primary norm.

2 All quotations from Swedish sources are presented here in my own translation.

3 I specify the Moderates and the Christian Democrats here, because apart from certain local-only parties, these are the first two parties ever to enter into, or even seriously consider, coalitions with SD.

4 The Alliance consists of the Moderates, Center Party, Liberals and Christian Democrats who tend to rule together at the national level.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Norwegian Research Council under Grant number 303909.

Notes on contributors

Jørgen Eikvar Axelsen

Jørgen Eikvar Axelsen is a doctoral researcher at the department of Social and Political Sciences at the European University Institute. His research is focused on challenger parties and their integration into the political system.