KONUNGAVÄLDE ELLER FOLKVÄLDE? Kristen press om rösträttsreformen 1907-11 och borggårdskrisen 1914

Abstract

This paper seeks to clarify the attitudes and positions of five Swedish Christian newspapers in relation to the Suffrage reform (1907-11) and the Courtyard crisis (1914). Furthermore I try to investigate the reasons behind their attitudes and positions. The five newspapers examined are: Göteborgs Stifts-Tidning, Församlingsbladet, Vår Lösen, Svenska Morgonbladet and Wecko-Posten. The results of my research show both convergence and divergence. Common for the newspapers is their criticism of the political agitation on the basis of ethics and that they all, except for Göteborgs Stifts-Tidning, recognize democratic principles. Divergence is evident, for example, in the reactions to the consequences of the Courtyard crisis. I have distinguished three main factors that may help to explain the attitudes and positions of the newspapers’: nationalism versus internationalism, confessionalism and polarized political positions, and have found that the concept of a “Christian press” can be defended as well as put into question. On the one hand, these five Christian newspapers have more in common with non- Christian politically likeminded newspapers than with each other. On the other hand, they are united in their common quest for an ideal Christian society.