Animal advocacy and the radical right: the case of Sweden

Why does the radical right care so much about animals? In this study, we argue that salience of animal advocacy within can be explained by its compatibility with these parties’ broader ideological framework. By analysing official documents from party Sweden Democrats, find is shaped an core consisting nativism, authoritarianism and populism. The SD argues, for example, immigrants are more violent towards animals; cruelty must strongly punished; mistreatment animals contrary to moral intuitions ‘the people’. Rather than only being used instrumentally denigrate cultural practices immigrants, however, policies reflect a commitment well-being. Still, they differ egalitarian rights-based agenda ‘animalist’ parties, promoting as do paternalistic animal-welfare where compassion owed not because our equals, but rather dependent on us. findings improve understanding ideology how ethical principles in animal-rights debate integrated into frameworks translated policy.