The criminalisation of buying sex: The politics of prostitution in Sweden

While there are feminists in other countries who would like to see the buyi ng of sex made illegal, Sweden is indeed unique for having done so. Sweden' s popular form of radical feminism has shown itself to be highly effective in mobilising support and creating a broad consensus on an issue which can be very divisive. This article outlines the Swedish debate about prostituti on, to find out why legislation was passed which is barely on the agenda in other countries. While the strength and purpose of the women's movement wa s a key factor, others also played a part. The women's movement was itself rooted in a popular movement tradition that is particularly effective in in fluencing government policy. The link between drugs and prostitution provid ed both a rationale and a symbolic discourse for intervention. Fears about foreign prostitutes and liberal practices abroad played a part. Sweden's we ak liberal tradition also made the advocacy of the liberal argument difficu lt.