Abstract
This article contributes to the research on the expansion of the Swedish post-war road network by illuminating the role of tourism in addition to political and industrial agendas. Specifically, it examines the “conceptual construction” of the Blue Highway, which currently stretches from the Atlantic Coast of Norway, traverses through Sweden and Finland, and enters into Russia. The focus is on Swedish governmental reports and national press between the 1950s and the 1970s. The article identifies three overlapping meanings attached to the Blue Highway: a political agenda of improving the relationships between the Nordic countries, industrial interests, and tourism. Political ambitions of Nordic community building were clearly pronounced at the onset of the project. Industrial actors depended on the road for the building of power plants and dams. The road became gradually more connected with the view of tourism as the motor of regional development.
Highlights
Tourism is an essential aspect of modern societies
This article contributes to the research on the expansion of the Swedish post-war road network by illuminating the role of tourism in addition to political and industrial agendas
It examines the “conceptual construction” of the Blue Highway, which currently stretches from the Atlantic Coast of Norway, traverses through Sweden and Finland, and enters into Russia
Summary
Tourism is an essential aspect of modern societies. Holiday pay, cars, and modern highways have become almost synonymous with modern recreation.[1]. The Swedish Road Association (Svenska va€gfo€reningen, SvF) served as a hub for mobilising various actors in the Swedish post-war road and car lobby.[24] SvF had a major influence on the large National Road Plan for Sweden (Va€gplan fo€r Sverige), which was instrumental in the efforts of the Swedish government of improving the road network over the 1960s and 1970s.25 This governmental work largely spans the period with which this article is concerned. Road construction from the 1970s onwards was increasingly based on regional negotiations between different parties and representatives of both the public and the private sector and industry.[29] The decisions formally taken by the central government were often anchored both administratively and politically at a regional level This should be seen against the backdrop of the general criticism of the public administration and the decentralisation of the Swedish state apparatus at the time. The same road was considered a solution to different problems by different actors
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