A brief view of post modern politics, fragmented ideology and how they can be approached. Drawing from examples from the Swedish Pirate Party (Piratpartiet)

1. POLITICS OF
FRAGMENTATION AND
SIGNIFICATION
by Anders Utbult ideological change and non-verbal communication
(anders.utbult@gmail.com)
in the Swedish Pirate Party

2. This presentation is based on:
 Postmodernism by Glenn Ward (mainly chapter 8)
 Poststructuralism by Catherine Belsey
 Citizen Politics by Russel J. Dalton (chapter 2)
 Pirate Party-material from:
 Blogs
 Flickr
 Wikis

3. We will discuss:
 What changes could be seen in ideology in a
postmodern society?
 How can these changes affect the role of the
political party?
 How can this new situation be adressed by the
political parties?
In the context of The Pirate Party and the Swedish
society and political system

4. Ideology & Postmodernism

5. The fragmentation of ideology
 Jean-François Lyotard (1979):
”The fall of the grand metanarrative”
 No one single ”truth”
 No universal ethics?
 The decline of class war and other boundaries
 Rise of individual issues, niche-politics
 Nationalism replaced by multi-culturalism,
cosmopolitanism – ”the globalized identity”

6. A Structured Belief System
Issue
opinion
Structuring
Issue Issue
opinion principle opinion
(ideology)
Issue
opinion
Source: ”Figure 2.1 Model of a Structured Belief System”
Dalton 2006, p.17

7. A Hierarchial Belief System
Structuring
principle
General General General
orientation orientation orientation
Specific Specific Specific Specific Specific Specific
issue issue issue issue issue issue
Source: ”Figure 2.4 A Hierarchical Model of Beliefs”
Dalton 2006, p.28

8. A Fractured Belief System?
Specific Specific Issue
Issue
General orientation
Specific Specific
Issue Specific Issue
Issue

9. Increased access to politics
It is easier and cheaper to…
 …gain information
 National/international
 Science, statistics
 …participate
 Writing, blogging, commenting
 …organize
 Reduced lag
…but also a feeling of ”too much”?

10. Changing the shape of politics
”Modern” politics ”Postmodern” politics
 Focuses on unifying  Focus on a diversity of
individuals with different wievs and accepts them
priorities
 Is based on ideology/a  Don’t believe in a single
grand narrative truth
 Uses traditional forums  Focus on openess – self
of public debate analysing
 Uses one-way
communication  Is interactive

11. Introduction to Sweden

12. Sweden in brief
 Highly developed, democratic society
 9 million people, 85% in urban areas
 Neutral, part of the European Union
 ”Talent, technology, tolerance”

13. Swedish politics
 Parliamentary, representative democracy
 Social democratic 1932-1976, 1982-1991
 Taxes and regulations – strong welfare state
Alliance for Sweden The Red-Greens
 The Moderate Party  The Social Democrats
 The Centre Party  The Left Party
 The Liberal Party  The Green Party
 The Christian Democrats

14. The Pirate Party

15. Background
 Founded in 2006 by IT-entrepreneur Rick Falkvinge
 Created its first party program through debate
forums on the internet
 Gained popularity through debates concerning:
 FRA – surveillance of internet communication
 IPRED – copyright infringement law
 The Pirate Bay – sharing content on the internet
 Won 7,1% of the votes in the election for the
European parliament in June 2009

16. Main focus of the party
 Three areas:
 ”Shared culture” - Copyright
 ”Free knowledge” - Patents
 ”Protected private life” – Surveillance & Integrity
 No views on other issues
 All levels: European, national, municipal, student
 Not the first party of this model – but the first to be
open about their narrow scope

17. Differences compared to other parties
Established parties The Pirate Party
 Focus on many/all areas of  Focus only on its three specific
society areas
 Base their politics on a  Base their politics on common
comprehensive ideology beliefs, but only in certain
and/or grand idéas areas
 Uses electronic communication  Uses electronic communication
as a supplement to party as the main form of party
activities activities
 Membership costs money and  Membership is free and could
is single be plural
 Definable within left/right  Not definable within left/right

18. The Pirate Party and Ideology
Issue Issue
Individual
Individual
The Pirate Party
Issue
Individual

19. Signifying the new
 Knowledge: Technical, statistical, communicational
 Often: Young, alternative, well informed (example)
 Openess: Finances, internal debates
 Day to day blogging
 Regain lost trust in the political game
 Interaction & Participation
 Politicsdecided through online forums
 User generated content: Blogs, YouTube, Campaigns
 Local inititatives without central control

20. Ways of communication
 Blog networking – affecting media
 Constantly commenting
 Mocking, parodizing lack of knowledge
 Gaining publicity by being avant-garde
 Taking pride in ”not being serious” and narrow focus
 Focus on participation/interaction rather than
acceptance/support

21. The Pirate Party on the Streets
Pluralism, but with common signs

22. ”Party leader”
Together with openess, easy access and easy participation:
Signifying the open organisation

23. Team member or supporter?
Top left: High members of the Pirate Party
Top right: A Swedish hobby soccer team
Bottom: ”Become a supporter” – campaign by the Social Democrats

24. Troubles ohoy?
 Success in European election – low support in
national politics
 Other parties catching up?
 Questionsconcerning digital culture
 Ways of communication/participation
 No current debate?
 Not ”serious” enough for national politics?
 Focus on a broader perspective

25. Questions for debate:
 Does society’s view on ideology change with events?
 Financial crisis leading to quest for easy answers?
 Is the fragmentation of ideology based on wealth or
other factors?
 Newly founded Pirate Party of Canada
 Will
they have a chance?
 What national factors affect?

26. This presentation is avaliable at:
http://korta.nu/pomo