Negative campaigning and American influence

The hottest debate the last week in Sweden regarded what is almost exclusively considered an American phenomena. Negative campaigning and smear-tactics have entered Sweden's election race, and as commonly done it is blamed and depicted as an example of Americanization of our society. Surely, not all view it as something despicable, but rather as something that can spice up the political debate, create clearer political alternatives; things which in the end will increase peoples' interest and participation, even furthering democracy.

To be sure, negative campaigning and foul play are a present part of American elections from state to presidential. The latest run between Barack Obama and John McCain had it's very low moments, such as when McCain and Sarah Palin tried to align Obama with former members of Weather Underground, trying to make him seem to side with terrorists, hence being un-American and unfit for presidency. However, Swedes tend to overestimate the spread and impact of these tactics, giving the image that that is what American elections are all about. The Swedish mainstream media can in large part be blamed for this. Their reports of American elections consist in large part of the negative side of the campaigns and debates. It raises a lot of attention and draws viewers and readers to the media-outlets, hence raising profits. People want drama and conflict in politics (and at the same time they are tired of political squabbling...) which negative campaigning sometimes draws to its outer limits.

So far Swedish political life has been minimally influenced by American conditions, in part because American realities can not easily be translated to the Swedish as the political history and system of the two nations are quite different. However much people might like more conflicts and attention-raising debates, the larger part of Swedish society will continue to resist American influence and dub it as negative.