Elof Eriksson
Encyclopedia
Elof Eriksson was a Swedish
anti-Semitic political writer. He was recognised as the main exponent of anti-Semitism in inter-war Sweden along with Einar Åberg.
movements connected to the Jordbrukarnas Riksförbund (Farmers National Federation), leading a highly reactionary
faction that was suspcious of democracy
and was supportive of eugenics
. He left active politics when the group as a whole merged with the Centre Party
and became a writer and publisher, taking over the editing of the highly conservative
Södertälje Tidning in 1923. It was whilst writing for this paper that he began to demonstrate his anti-Semitic opinions.
. For a time he was a member of the Sveriges Fascistiska Folkparti
although he clashed with other leaders such as Konrad Hallgren, Sven Hedengren and Sven Olov Lindholm
due to their support for Nazism
as well as personality issues. Despite his anti-Semitism, Eriksson rejected Nazism in part because he felt that it was revolutionary
and he much preferred a highly reactionary approach to politics.
since his earliest years, Eriksson began to develop ideas that blamed a Jewish conspiracy on the modern world and this became the centre of his world view in later years. He predicted the rise of a new form of Nordic
Christianity
that would rid the faith of the influence of Judaism
but argued that for this to happen a spritiual rebirth of the Nordic countries|Nordic people was necessary. Therefore for Eriksson racial consciousness, the struggle against the Jews and anti-Semitism itself were all ordained by God. His final written work, the 1962 book Världskulturer, provided a full discussion of his religio-philosophical approach to anti-Semitism.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
anti-Semitic political writer. He was recognised as the main exponent of anti-Semitism in inter-war Sweden along with Einar Åberg.
Early years
Eriksson began his political career in 1914 in the agrarianAgrarianism
Agrarianism has two common meanings. The first meaning refers to a social philosophy or political philosophy which values rural society as superior to urban society, the independent farmer as superior to the paid worker, and sees farming as a way of life that can shape the ideal social values...
movements connected to the Jordbrukarnas Riksförbund (Farmers National Federation), leading a highly reactionary
Reactionary
The term reactionary refers to viewpoints that seek to return to a previous state in a society. The term is meant to describe one end of a political spectrum whose opposite pole is "radical". While it has not been generally considered a term of praise it has been adopted as a self-description by...
faction that was suspcious of democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
and was supportive of eugenics
Eugenics
Eugenics is the "applied science or the bio-social movement which advocates the use of practices aimed at improving the genetic composition of a population", usually referring to human populations. The origins of the concept of eugenics began with certain interpretations of Mendelian inheritance,...
. He left active politics when the group as a whole merged with the Centre Party
Centre Party (Sweden)
The Centre Party is a centrist political party in Sweden. The party maintains close ties to rural Sweden and describes itself as "a green social liberal party". The ideology is sometimes called agrarian, but in a European context, the Centre Party can perhaps best be characterized as social...
and became a writer and publisher, taking over the editing of the highly conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
Södertälje Tidning in 1923. It was whilst writing for this paper that he began to demonstrate his anti-Semitic opinions.
Fascist politics
Eriksson was fired in 1925 for his extremist views and set up his own paper, the Nationen, which became the main outlet for his increasingly hard-line beliefs. The paper, which ran into the 1940s, averaged around 3000 in circulation and reached 10,000 at its peak, a high number for an extremist paper in Sweden at the time. Within the Nationen Eriksson was soon promoting both anti-Semitism and his strong support for Italian fascismItalian Fascism
Italian Fascism also known as Fascism with a capital "F" refers to the original fascist ideology in Italy. This ideology is associated with the National Fascist Party which under Benito Mussolini ruled the Kingdom of Italy from 1922 until 1943, the Republican Fascist Party which ruled the Italian...
. For a time he was a member of the Sveriges Fascistiska Folkparti
National Socialist People's Party of Sweden
Fascist People's Party of Sweden was a political party in Sweden. It was founded on September 3, 1926, by a circle around the publication Nationen. Its cadre was made up of members of the Fascist Struggle Organisation of Sweden.Konrad Hallgren, a former German officer, became the leader of the party...
although he clashed with other leaders such as Konrad Hallgren, Sven Hedengren and Sven Olov Lindholm
Sven Olov Lindholm
Sven Olov Lindholm was a Swedish Nazi leader, active in different Swedish fascist organizations from the 1920s to the 1950s....
due to their support for Nazism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
as well as personality issues. Despite his anti-Semitism, Eriksson rejected Nazism in part because he felt that it was revolutionary
Revolutionary
A revolutionary is a person who either actively participates in, or advocates revolution. Also, when used as an adjective, the term revolutionary refers to something that has a major, sudden impact on society or on some aspect of human endeavor.-Definition:...
and he much preferred a highly reactionary approach to politics.
Ideology
A critic of modernityModernity
Modernity typically refers to a post-traditional, post-medieval historical period, one marked by the move from feudalism toward capitalism, industrialization, secularization, rationalization, the nation-state and its constituent institutions and forms of surveillance...
since his earliest years, Eriksson began to develop ideas that blamed a Jewish conspiracy on the modern world and this became the centre of his world view in later years. He predicted the rise of a new form of Nordic
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
that would rid the faith of the influence of Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
but argued that for this to happen a spritiual rebirth of the Nordic countries|Nordic people was necessary. Therefore for Eriksson racial consciousness, the struggle against the Jews and anti-Semitism itself were all ordained by God. His final written work, the 1962 book Världskulturer, provided a full discussion of his religio-philosophical approach to anti-Semitism.