Its stated aim is to oppose what it considers as the spread of Islamism, Sharia law and Islamic extremism in England.
The EDL also incorporates a "Jewish Division" which has its own Facebook page. The EDL was the subject of a 2010 BBC documentary, Young, British and Angry. One of the organization’s principal strategists is Alan Lake, who has also advised the Sweden Democrats(*) on tactics.
Matthew Goodwin an academic who specialises in the study of far-right extremism has argued that the English Defence League can be distinguished from groups such as the National Front:
"The reason why the EDL's adoption of Islamophobia is particularly significant is that unlike the 1970s, when the National Front was embracing antisemitism, there are now sections of the media and the British establishment that are relatively sympathetic towards Islamophobia. It is not difficult to look through the media and find quite hostile views towards Islam and Muslims. That is fundamentally different to the 1970s, when very few newspapers or politicians were endorsing the NF's antisemitic message."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Defence_League----------------
*
- Sweden Democrats, founded in 1988, is a Swedish political party that describes itself as a nationalist movement.
The Sweden Democrats believe that immigration, Islamization, supranationality (e.g., the European Union), cultural imperialism (mainly from the USA), and globalisation are threats to Swedish culture.
The Sweden Democrats wish to lower taxes and reduce government intervention in the economy to promote the growth of small business enterprises. In order to reduce unemployment, the party sees a need to improve the general business climate, especially for smaller enterprises. A key point in the party's economic policy is the argument that immigration in 1999 alone cost the Swedish government approximately 267 billion Swedish kronor (US$36.7 Billion ), up from 100 billion in 1990.
They are in favor of the traditional nuclear family and believe that every child should have "one father and one mother," according to their website. ... Sweden Democrats are opposed to adoption rights for gay couples, and to letting lesbian women become inseminated. Although they strongly criticize what they call Homosex Lobby, they claim that they are not hostile to homosexuals.
The party believes that the current Swedish immigration and integration policies have been a failure. The party feels that the current situation with a large number of immigrants living in cultural enclaves is not beneficial for the country. ...The party reject the policy of multiculturalism, but accept a multiethnic society where cultural assimilation is promoted.
The party has its origins in the movement Bevara Sverige Svenskt ("Keep Sweden Swedish"). During the mid 1990s, the party leader Mikael Jansson strove to make the party more respectable, modelling it after other "euronationalist" parties, most prominently the French National Front. This policy continues to be followed by the present leader Jimmie Åkesson. This effort included ousting openly extremist members.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden_Democrats
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