Niklas Bolin

Associate Professor (docent) in political science. His research focuses on elections, political parties and political behaviour with a specific interest in populist radical right parties, green parties and questions about party organization, e.g. intra-party democracy and party leader selection. He is an affiliated researcher of DEMICOM, Centre for Study of Democracy and Communication. Bolin is frequently interviewed by media about elections , parties and voters.

Background

Holds a PhD in political science from Umeå University (2012)

Current research

Current projects:

2019-2021 Political Parties and their Leaders: Power and Selection in Comparative Perspective, with Nicholas Aylott (Södertörn University), funded by Baltic Sea Foundation

2018-2020 Snabbtänkt. Popular science project where leading academics are gathered to write short analysis of current events, with Lars Nord, Kajsa Falasca och Marie Grusell (Mid Sweden University), funded by Mid Sweden University ALP-medel

Publications

Articles in journals
Articles, book reviews
Chapters in books
Collections (editor)
Conference papers
Doctoral theses, monographs
Other
Reports

Articles in journals

Aylott, N. & Bolin, N. (2019). A party system in flux : the Swedish parliamentary election of September 2018. West European Politics, vol. 42: 7, pp. 1504-1515.    

Bolin, N. & Falasca, K. (2019). Reaching the Voter : Exploring Swedish Political Parties’ Assessment of Different Communication Channels in Three National Election Campaigns, 2010–2018. Statsvetenskaplig Tidskrift, vol. 121: 3, pp. 347-365.  

Bolin, N. & Aylott, N. (2019). The price of power : the greens in the 2018 Swedish parliamentary election. Environmental Politics, vol. 28: 3, pp. 568-573.  

Aylott, N. & Bolin, N. (2017). Managed Intra-Party Democracy : Precursory Delegation and Party Leader Selection. Party Politics, vol. 23: 1, pp. 55-65.  

Loxbo, K. & Bolin, N. (2016). Party Organizational Development and the Electoral Performance of the Radical Right: Exploring the Role of Local Candidates in the Breakthrough Elections of the Sweden Democrats 2002-2014. Journal of Elections, Public Opinion, and Parties, vol. 26: 2, pp. 170-190.  

Bolin, N. & Larue, T. (2016). Reparlamentariseringen av Sverige? Bruket av och betydelsen av riksdagens tillkännagivanden till regeringen. Statsvetenskaplig Tidskrift, vol. 118: 3, pp. 307-337.    

Bolin, N. (2015). A Loyal Rookie? The Sweden Democrats’ First Year in the European Parliament. Polish Quarterly of International Affairs, : 2, pp. 59-78.

Aylott, N. & Bolin, N. (2015). Polarising Pluralism: The Swedish Parliamentary Election of September 2014. West European Politics, vol. 38: 3, pp. 730-740.  

Aylott, N. & Bolin, N. (2015). The Swedish Greens : A Big Step Forward – and Several Steps Back. Environmental Politics, vol. 24: 2, pp. 337-341.  

Bolin, N. , Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2014). Do Anti-immigration Parties Matter? The Case of the Sweden Democrats and Local Refugee Policy. Scandinavian Political Studies, vol. 37: 3, pp. 323-343.  

Bolin, N. (2014). New party parliamentary entry in Western Europe, 1960-2010. European Journal of Government and Economics, vol. 3: 1, pp. 5-23.    

Aylott, N. & Bolin, N. (2007). Towards a two-party system? : The Swedish parliamentary election of September 2006. West European Politics, vol. 30: 3, pp. 621-633.  

Bolin, N. & Larue, T. (2006). Bättre forskarutbildning i statsvetenskap : ett förslag. Statsvetenskaplig Tidskrift, vol. 108: 2, pp. 224-226.

Articles, book reviews

Bolin, N. (2019). Book review: Nordic Nationalism and Right-Wing Populist Politics. Party Politics, vol. 25: 6, pp. 864-865.  

Chapters in books

Nord, L. , Falasca, K. , Grusell, M. & Bolin, N. (2019). Introduction : More like 28 national elections than one European election. In Euroflections : Leading academics on the Europran elections 2019. Mid Sweden University, DEMICOM (DEMICOM rapport). pp. 9-11.  

Bolin, N. (2019). Partiernas interndemokrati. In Partier och partisystem. Lund : Studentlitteratur AB. pp. 231-247.

Bolin, N. (2019). The Centre Party and the Liberals : The Swedish members of the liberal party family?. In Liberal Parties in Europe. Routledge. pp. 60-76.

Bolin, N. (2019). The end of the big-party era?. In Euroflections : Leading academics on the European elections 2019. Sundsvall : Mid Sweden University, Demicom (DEMICOM rapport). pp. 20-.  

Bolin, N. (2018). Det nya svenska partisystemet. In Snabbtänkt : Reflektioner från valet 2018 av ledande forskare. Sundsvall : Mid Sweden University, DEMICOM. pp. 67-.    

Nord, L. , Grusell, M. , Bolin, N. & Falasca, K. (2018). Ingenting är längre som förut.... In Snabbtänkt : Reflektioner från valet 2018 av ledande forskare. Sundsvall : Mid Sweden University, DEMICOM. pp. 10-12.    

Bolin, N. , Aylott, N. , von dem Berge, B. & Poguntke, T. (2017). Patterns of Intra-Party Democracy across the World. In Organizing Political Parties : Representation, Participation, and Power. Oxford : Oxford University Press. pp. 158-184.

Bolin, N. (2016). Green parties in Finland and Sweden : Successful cases of the North?. In Green parties in Europe. London : Routledge. pp. 158-176.

Bolin, N. , Hinnfors, J. & Strömbäck, J. (2016). Invandring på ledarsidorna i svensk nationell dagspress 2010–2015. In Migrationen i medierna : men det får en väl inte prata om. Stockholm : Institutet för mediestudier. pp. 192-211.  

Nyhlén, S. , Bolin, N. & Olausson, P. M. (2015). Att studera lokalt beslutsfattande. In Lokalt beslutsfattande. Lund : Studentlitteratur AB. pp. 73-77.

Bolin, N. , Olausson, P. M. & Nyhlén, S. (2015). Lokalt beslutsfattande - avslutande reflektioner. In Lokalt beslutsfattande. Lund : Studentlitteratur AB. pp. 169-176.

Olausson, P. M. , Nyhlén, S. & Bolin, N. (2015). Lokalt beslutsfattande - en introduktion. In Lokalt beslutsfattande. Lund : Studentlitteratur AB. pp. 11-20.

Bolin, N. (2015). Partikongresser och interndemokrati. In Partier och partisystem. Lund : Studentlitteratur AB. pp. 105-119.

Bergman, T. & Bolin, N. (2013). Swedish Democracy : Crumbling Political Parties, a Feeble Riksdag, and Technocratic Power Holders?. In The Madisonian Turn : Political Parties and Parliamentary Democracy in Nordic Europe. Ann Arbor : University of Michigan Press. pp. 251-293.

Bergman, T. & Bolin, N. (2011). Swedish democracy : crumbling political parties, a feeble riksdag, and technocratic power holders?. In The Madisonian turn : political parties and parliamentary democracy in Nordic Europe. Ann Arbor : University of Michigan Press (New comparative politics). pp. 251-293.

Collections (editor)

Bolin, N. (ed.) , Falasca, K. (ed.) , Grusell, M. (ed.) & Nord, L. (ed.) (2019). Euroflections : Leading academics on the European Elections 2019. Sundsvall : Mid Sweden University, Demicom (DEMICOM rapport 40).  

Nord, L. (ed.) , Grusell, M. (ed.) , Bolin, N. (ed.) & Falasca, K. (ed.) (2018). Snabbtänkt : Reflektioner från valet 2018 av ledande forskare. Sundsvall : Mid Sweden University, DEMICOM    

Bolin, N. (ed.) , Nyhlén, S. (ed.) & Olausson, P. M. (ed.) (2015). Lokalt beslutsfattande. Lund : Studentlitteratur AB

Conference papers

Blombäck, S. & Bolin, N. (2019). The discouraging effect of the radical right. : An experimental study of the importance of party cues on voters’ assessment of political proposals. Paper presented at the Swedish Political Science Association (SWEPSA) annual meeting, Norrköping, 2-4 October, 2019

Aylott, N. & Bolin, N. (2018). The scope of party leadership : re-examining the terms on which political parties select their leaders. Paper presented at the 3rd Public and Political Leadership (PUPOL) conference, Swedish Defence University, Stockholm, 19-20 April

Bolin, N. & Hellström, J. (2017). Do mainstream parties emphasize immigration as a response to the radical right?. Paper presented at the Swedish Network for European Studies (SNES) conference, Umeå University, 27-28 March 2017

Bolin, N. & Kosiara-Pedersen, K. (2017). Party members' perception of intra-party democracy. Paper presented at the XVIII Nordic Political Science Association (NOPSA) Conference, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark, August 8-11, 2017

Nyhlén, S. , Lidén, G. & Bolin, N. (2017). When social inequality goes beyond the nation state : analyzing how Swedish municipalities handle vulnerable EU-migrants. Paper presented at the 11th ECPR General Conference, Oslo, 6-9 september, 2017

Aylott, N. & Bolin, N. (2016). Managed Intra-Party Democracy : Precursory Delegation and Party Leader Selection. Paper presented at the 74th Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA) annual conference, Chicago, 7-10 April and 1st Public and Political Leadership (PUPOL) conference, Radboud University, Nijmegen, 7-8 April.

Bolin, N. (2015). A Matter of Time? The Impact of the Radical Right on Parties and MPs. Paper presented at the Swedish Political Science Association (SWEPSA) annual meeting, Workshop: Political Parties and Political Behaviour, Swedish Defence University, Stockholm, October 14-16.

Aylott, N. & Bolin, N. (2015). A peculiar practice : Intra-party democracy and leader selection in Sweden. Paper presented at the 111th American Political Science Association Annual Meeting and the Gothenburg Intra-Party Politics Worskhop  

Bolin, N. (2015). The Impact of the Swedish Populist Radical Right on the Immigration Agendas of the Established Parties and their MPs. Paper presented at the 2nd International Conference on Public Policy, July 2015, Milan, Italy.

Bolin, N. & Lidén, G. (2015). The non-receivers : Explanations as to why some Swedish municipalities resist refugee reception. Paper presented at the 2nd International Conference on Public Policy, July 2015, Milan, Italy.

Bolin, N. & Lidén, G. (2014). Disagreeing with the nation state : Why some Swedish municipalities refuse refugee reception. Paper presented at the 4th Annual General Conference of the European Political Science Association (EPSA), Edinburgh, 19-21 June 2014

Poguntke, T. , von dem Berge, B. , Bolin, N. & Aylott, N. (2014). Intra-Party Democracy across the world: Patterns, Causes and Consequences. Paper presented at the Political party database (PPDB) conference: Organizing Representation: Political Parties, Participation and Power. Lewes, UK, October 16-17, 2014

Bolin, N. , Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2014). Local refugee reception and the impact of the Sweden Democrats. Paper presented at the 4th Nordic Populism Network meeting, Sundsvall, March 18-19 2014

Bolin, N. & Lidén, G. (2014). Obstructing national policy. The case of Swedish municipalities and refugee reception. Paper presented at the XVII Nordic Political Science Association Conference, August 12-15, 2014, Gothenburg.

Bolin, N. & Loxbo, K. (2014). Radical right parties, organizational maturity and electoral success.The Sweden Democrats and the elections of 2006 and 2010. Paper presented at the XVII Nordic Political Science Congress (NOPSA), Gothenburg, Sweden, August 12-15, 2014

Bolin, N. , Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2013). Anti-immigration party impact on local migration policy in Sweden. Paper presented at the Swedish Political Science Association (SWEPSA) annual meeting, Stockholm, 2-4 October, 2013.

Bolin, N. (2013). Green Parties in Finland and Sweden. Electoral, Programmatic and Organizational Changes. Paper presented at the International Conference Green Parties in Europe: A Comparative Perspective, Université Libre de Bruxelles 28-29 March, 2013.

Bolin, N. , Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2013). Political Parties and Local Refugee Reception in Sweden. Paper presented at the XXII Nordiska kommunforskarkonferensen, Åbo, 21-23 November, 2013.    

Bolin, N. (2010). How new parties shape their own fate : An actor-centered framework for analysis. Paper presented at the ECPR Graduate Conference, Dublin, Ireland, 30 August to 1 September, 2010.

Bolin, N. (2007). Established parties and their measures against new parties. The case of Sweden. Paper presented at the 4th ECPR General Conference, Pisa, 6-8 september 2007.

Bolin, N. (2006). Contextual Impact on New Party Entrance. Paper presented at the Statsvetenskapliga förbundets årsmöte, 12-14 oktober, Karlstad (Swedish Political Science Association)  

Doctoral theses, monographs

Bolin, N. (2012). Målsättning riksdagen : Ett aktörsperspektiv på nya partiers inträde i det nationella parlamentet. Dis. Umeå : Umeå universitet, 2012 (Statsvetenskapliga institutionens skriftserie : 2012:3)  

Other

Bolin, N. , Falasca, K. , Grusell, M. & Nord, L. (2019). EU-valet var mest av allt 28 nationella val (Dagens Nyheter).  

Bolin, N. , Falasca, K. , Grusell, M. & Nord, L. (2019). What happened in the European Elections? 70 academics share their reflections (The Big Q).  

Bolin, N. , Falasca, K. , Grusell, M. & Nord, L. (2018). De partier som tänker nytt kommer att vinna valet 2022 (DN debatt).

Aylott, N. & Bolin, N. (2018). How the rise of the Swedish radical right changed the most stable party system in Europe (LSE EUROPP Blog).  

Bolin, N. (2018). Miljöpartiet de Gröna. Malmö : Nationalencyklopedin. (Nationalencyklopedin).

Bolin, N. (2016). Kampen om Ohlsson ställer L:s dilemma på sin spets (Dagens Samhälle).  

Bolin, N. (2016). Miljöpartiet är inte regeringsdugliga (Expressen).  

Bolin, N. (2016). Nytt språkrör räddar inte opinionssiffrorna (Expressen).  

Bolin, N. & Larue, T. (2016). Riksdagen visar tänderna – tillkännagivandena och maktbalansen mellan riksdag och regering (Om makt och politik).  

Aylott, N. & Bolin, N. (2016). Selecting party leaders: Who chooses and who shapes the choice? (LSE EUROPP Blog).

Bolin, N. (2016). Sverigedemokraternas organisatoriska utveckling som förklaring till väljarframgångarna (Om makt och politik).  

Bergman, T. , Bolin, N. & Sandström, C. (2015). Det finns möjligheter till blocköverskridande samarbeten (Om makt och politik).

Bergman, T. , Bolin, N. & Sandström, C. (2015). DÖ är inte hållbar i längden (Svenska Dagbladet).

Bolin, N. (2015). Är Sverigedemokraterna höger? (Om makt och politik).  

Bolin, N. (2014). Hur vanligt är det med nya partier i nationella parlament? (Om makt och politik).

Bolin, N. & Aylott, N. (2014). One winner and seven losers: The Swedish parliamentary election of September 2014 (EPERN research blog).  

Bolin, N. , Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2014). SD har makt över lokal flyktingpolitik (Dagens Samhälle).  

Bolin, N. (2014). The 2014 Swedish election will result in a change of government, but not in a substantive change of policy (LSE EUROPP Blog).  

Bolin, N. (2013). Utpekande som vilar på påståenden utan grund (Dagbladet).

Reports

Aylott, N. & Bolin, N. (2016). Towards a Framework for Analysing Party Leadership Selection. Göteborg : (Cergu´s Working Paper Series 2016:9).    

Bolin, N. (2007). New Party Entrance : Analyzing the Impact of Political Institutions. Umeå : Statsvetenskap (Umeå Working Papers in Political Science 2).  

Bolin, N. & Aylott, N. (2006). The Swedish Parliamentary Election of September 2006. Sussex : European Parties Elections & Referendums Network (Election Briefing Papers 30).