After these events the broad coalition government made up of the big right party, the Independence Party (Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn), and the Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylkingin) collapsed. The protests led to the Social Democrats having no alternative but to form a minority government with the socialists in the Left-Green Party (Vinstri-Grænir). The left-wing parties won the majority in the Parliament at the election which was called shortly afterwards. These are historic events - for the first time mass protests in Iceland led to a change of government.

The attack on Parliament

The riots did not have major consequences for the participants. There were definitely groups of extremists among them who were willing to risk everything, but neither the police nor the courts came down hard on the activists. A group of nine activists, however, was charged with "assault" on the Parliament. They had managed to force their way into the building and got into physical fights with the police and security guards. The charges were met by many with anger - which led to protests - since there are very strict penalties for attacking Parliament. The case ended with five of the so-called 'nine cousins' being acquitted; only four received mild sentences for public unrest. So it can almost be said that the system has accepted that the protests of 2008 and 2009 were justified. The community was upset - the general opinion was that those who ruled the country had failed the nation.

After the collapse large rallies were held in many places, and those ministers and MPs who were brave enough to show up were booed out. Confidence in politicians fell, and it has not been won back. Nevertheless, the traditional parties are still going strong in Parliament, where they do their usual bickering.

Difficult political debate

There is a general perception in society that the level of debate in Parliament has been rather low in relation to the danger Icelanders were in. This is perhaps not only the fault of the politicians. For a long time Icelanders have been unable to debate politics without going straight into the trenches and engaging in personal mud throwing and quibbling. In the settlement and reconstruction after the collapse, it has emerged that Icelanders have a hard time dealing with disagreements.

It would perhaps not have been surprising if the great distrust of the political system had led to a wave of radicalism and extremism. The result has instead been impotence. The Icelandic political system is very resilient, interest groups have great influence, and some of the system is impossible to understand without analysing the cliques that are formed and special interests. What gives the most cause for dissatisfaction is how most people are left as victims of debt while many of the financiers, who caused the nation's misfortune, are getting away with it all relatively easily, and the rebuilt banks have begun to deliver excellent results again. There is also a widespread perception that the left-wing government has revived the old system instead of making changes.

No military tradition

Iceland does not have a history of much political extremism. Class warfare began late in Iceland, but by then, in fact, the Communists were very powerful. Unlike what happened in Scandinavia, there were more Communists than Social Democrats in Iceland. Most of them, however, were practical men who knew that a revolution was not imminent, and by 1944 they already participated in government. There was a movement of National Socialists following the German model before the war - members marched through the streets of Reykjavik in uniform - but it never got widespread support. Icelanders have never had an army and have no military tradition - uniforms are considered bizarre and very few are able to walk in step. The National Socialists disappeared when Great Britain occupied Iceland in 1940 - it is worth noting that during the war, Iceland was the only country in Europe, apart from Switzerland and Sweden, where democracy was maintained.

So the history of extremist groups in Iceland is quite limited, although, of course, there were small left-wing groups around 1970. Most of them followed the line of similar groups in the Nordic countries. It says something about society that a top figure in one of these groups is now Governor of the Central Bank.

Immigration hardly a theme

Immigration - which can definitely be a breeding ground for right-wing extremism - started quite late in Iceland. The immigrant population grew rapidly larger in the financial bubble that started around 2000. Most came to work in the boom period when there was a lack of manpower. The Icelandic authorities have always been reluctant to accept political refugees and asylum seekers. Iceland became a multicultural society in a short time.

There was some discussion about the flow of immigrants for a while - that there was now a large group of people that could not be integrated into Icelandic culture and that would destroy the labour market for the locals. However, the debate was not even close to being as filled with tension as some places in the Nordic region. One party that called itself the Liberal Party (Frjálslyndi flokkurinn) tried to cash in on immigration issues during the election campaign in 2007. It did not go well, the other parties would not go along - and now support for the party has almost dried up. Since the collapse immigration issues have barely been mentioned - there are threats from other and bigger problems.

Nationalism and lack of faith in the market

There is, however, political dissolution. It can be said that politics have moved towards increased nationalism and distrust of the market economy. Even on the right the question is being raised of whether it was the free market that failed Icelanders - one of the leading right-wing ideologues, Styrmir Gunnarsson, speculated recently on whether private management was more suitable than government management. The financial crisis, and in particular the controversy surrounding the Icesave deposit bills, intensified nationalism.

Many Icelanders thought that otherwise friendly nations used superior force against them and, not least, President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson accused the Nordic and other European countries of being hostile towards Iceland after the collapse. Iceland is now negotiating membership of the EU, but only the Social Democratic Alliance is united in support of the application. The other parties are opposed to different degrees - and most of them indicate that there will be no EU membership.

The Best Party - no longer a joke

As previously stated, there has been no major breeding ground for political extremism in Iceland. It has rather been the tedious arguments and tugs-of-war, faction formation and violation of interest groups which have been an obstacle to social development. It seems that it is difficult to reach reasonable solutions to issues; much has been said about the level political culture, and it has not got any better.

The crazy party the Best Party (Besti flokkurinn) had a roaring win at the local elections in Reykjavik last year and the mayor, Jón Gnarr, represents that party. It looks like the Best Party will now turn its attention to national politics. The joke is actually not funny any longer, the party is struggling with cuts and heavily debt-ridden municipal companies, and it is not without reason that the traditional parties fear that they will lose votes.

Tolerance

Religious fanaticism has not been prominent nor has racial hatred. It is perhaps in the Icelanders' favour that they are a very tolerant nation - sometimes even indifferent. The Gay Pride Festival is one of the highlights of the year for Icelandic family entertainment - tens of thousands of men, women and children gather in the centre of Reykjavik. When Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir took over as prime minister, the fact that she is gay was not mentioned in Iceland. No one cared, and that is still the case. It was the foreign media that had to point out this fact to the Icelanders.

The views expressed are those of the author.