What happened
A suspected voter fraud incident in Borlänge has fueled debates on social media where the security of the electoral system is questioned. In the discussions, new Swedes have been cast under suspicion. Johannes Lindgren, analyst at Totalförsvarets forskningsinstitut, states that the agency assumes Russia will exploit the incident.
Our analysis
When flaws or suspicions arise in the electoral process, the reactions online show how quickly distrust is turned against new Swedes as a collective. Singling out an entire group and making it suspect for undermining democratic institutions is a clear example of how prejudice is activated. At the same time, the warning from Totalförsvarets forskningsinstitut shows that the division and finger-pointing in themselves constitute a vulnerability that external actors may want to amplify.
Explained
Totalförsvarets forskningsinstitut (FOI) is a government agency that conducts research on defense and security on behalf of, among others, the government.
Source: Dagens Nyheter