Swedish Way Research Articles

Financialization the Swedish way: How Vonovia became the largest owner of former public housing estates through transaction pathways and calculative practices

ABSTRACT The Swedish rental housing market has been in transition. The once dominating municipal public housing sector has been steadily decreasing. International firms have increasingly taken over rental housing in so-called socially deprived areas. This article analyzes the financialization of the former public housing stock. It traces activities in two housing estates and outlines the history and operations of venture capital-based real estate companies focusing on deprived areas in Sweden. These companies have upgraded multifamily homes and thus increased rents, which resulted in large profits and a decrease in the affordable housing stock. In this new reality, venture capital actors have taken advantage of contextual conditions and applied powerful calculative devices. Drawing on studies of financialization as a socio-technical process, the article contributes to knowledge by de-mystifying financialization through a detailed study of specific practices undertaken by international investors who acquire former public housing units in Sweden.

"Should We Do It the Swedish Way?": American Coverage of Sweden and Sex during the AIDS Pandemic

"Should We Do It the Swedish Way?": American Coverage of Sweden and Sex during the AIDS Pandemic

Swedish-American Borderlands: New Histories of Transatlantic Relations

Swedish-American Borderlands: New Histories of Transatlantic Relations

Integrating the Immigrant the Swedish Way? Understandings of Citizenship and Integration in Swedish Local Civic Integration Projects

ABSTRACT In Sweden, integration is a pressing issue particularly following the large influx of immigrants in 2015. Swedish municipalities play an important role in civic integration, with responsibility for newly arrived immigrants receiving a basic understanding of Swedish society, their rights and obligations. We analyse data from 204 applications granted funding 2016/2017 for projects improving the integration of refugees into society by co-operation between municipalities and other actors. Using thematic analysis, we identify two broad themes. One concerning the ‘what’ of integration – the Swedish values, norms and behaviours that immigrants are expected to learn in order to become ‘good’ Swedish citizens, and the other concerning the means or the ‘how’ of integration. However, although these projects are well-meaning, they may have normalizing and disciplining effects whereby the immigrant is constructed as subordinate, as the Other. Swedish gender-equality is heavily emphasized and we see how, in relation to this, the immigrant is constructed as unmodern, bound by tradition and unequal. Particularly immigrant women are produced as passive objects rather than active subjects, in need of special women’s activities and lacking as parents in comparison with the Swedish ideal.

The Swedish model and the pandemic: trust, trade union rights and collective self-regulation

10 | International Union Rights | 27/3 FOCUS | IMPACTS OF COVID-19 ON WORK AND THE CHALLENGE FOR UNION RIGHTS The Swedish model and the pandemic: trust, trade union rights and collective self-regulation ‘Normality’ in a society takes place on a narrow mountain plateau supported by democracy and trade union rights. On one side of the peak, the slope downwards into the dark valley of technocracy is steep. The other side falls away into the crevasse of populism. Both form the pit of authoritarianism, where democracy and trade union rights are but lofty dreams. Life on the mountain plateau can seem safe. But the security of ‘normality’ is deceptive. When Covid19 rocks the foundations, life on the plateau sways. The democratic state suddenly does not feel so secure. Some argue that a pandemic was expected; that our western capitalist economies were bound to enter a crisis. So it might be, but Covid-19 has also proven to be an unpredictable threat not only to human lives and our post WW2 political and economic system, but also to democracy and trade union rights. How can Covid-19 be fought back? Each country has had its different strategies. Some countries have experimented with curfews, lock downs and closed borders. The consequences for the wellbeing of citizens and the economy have been severe. Other countries have trusted their citizens to take on more personal responsibility. Everyday life and economic activities, albeit somewhat slower, have been able to continue. The latter approach, the Swedish way, has caught international attention. This article argues that much of the foundations that underpin the Swedish collective self-regulatory labour market model have also been conducive to the Swedish Covid-19 strategy. Conditions vary between countries. One must do the best with the conditions where one finds oneself. Social capital, trust and responsibility are some of the key ingredients. The collective self-regulatory labour market can be used as tool to understand why a different path was possible in Sweden, but also to illustrate the importance of appropriate national solutions. Trust and self-regulation as a legislative strategy Trade unions and employers in Sweden are well organised and enjoy a large autonomy to regulate matters between them. There is no legislative minimum wage or system to declare generally binding collective agreements. The Swedish collective self-regulatory system, as professor Otto Kahn-Freund, the father of collective labour law, would have put it, is a laissez-faire system. The Swedish legislator trusts employers and trade unions. But the social partners generally also trust the legislator. Autonomous collective agreements cover all economic activity on the labour market in practice – and also establish norms for nonorganised employers and workers. Collective self-regulation also makes matters easier for the legislator. Most conflicts and problems generated by technological, organisational development and changed conditions in general on the labour market can be solved by the social partners. The legislator’s attention can then be elsewhere. Trust often grows out of actions. Trade unions and employers in Sweden have largely been acting responsibly since the 1930s. Many national crises have been solved, partly or fully, through the adaptability that collective agreements provide. Some recent examples are the economic crisis in the 1990s, when the wage-formation system was transformed, but also in 2008 when special collective agreements provided solutions to the liquidity problems caused by the financial crisis. The strong self-regulatory Swedish labour market model has many advantages. It gives the buyers and sellers of work power to regulate the price and conditions of labour. Agreements can win legitimacy, but they can also balance and change local power relations. Self-regulatory models often make a difference for people. They engage people in conditions at their workplace and often make real change. An authoritarian dynamic is never far away in society In country after country, authoritarian traits are becoming more prominent. The framework of populism falsely posits the ‘proper people’ against the ‘corrupt establishment’. It is an authoritarian tradition that tends to restrict democratic freedoms and rights, especially the right of expression and association – the same fundamental rights that form the basis for trade unionism. Populist politicians tend to ignore the experts and pretend to be...

Motives and structure behind capital investments in ice hockey arenas – the Swedish way

ABSTRACTAn unprecedented number of large ice hockey arenas were built in Sweden between 2000-2014. This study explores the motives and rationale behind these capital investments in Swedish ice hockey arenas. Based on a multiple data-gathering method, this research concludes that capital investments in sport arenas are primarily driven by the need for rationalization and improvement of events, increasing societal image building through sport and an increasing focus on social enrichment in the competition for attracting citizens and companies to municipalities. Close collaborations between local politicians, club executives and entrepreneurs have provided creative financial solutions for the new arenas. The ice hockey arena projects have been legitimized from a societal perspective through either overly optimistic or manipulated sophisticated capital investment methods, which provided the necessary support for the political decision rationale that has been dominating these projects. A consequence of the arena projects, is an increased commercialization and professionalization of Swedish hockey.

Somali women's view of physical activity—a focus group study

Background: Physical inactivity presents a major public health challenge and is estimated to cause six to ten percent of the major non-communicable diseases. Studies show that immigrants, especially women, have an increased risk of non-communicable diseases compared to ethnic Swedes. Somali immigrant women have increased rates of overweight and obesity, low fitness levels and low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness compared to non-immigrant women. These findings suggest that Somali women are at increased risk of developing lifestyle-related diseases. Few studies explore determinants of physical activity among Somali women. The aim of this study was to explore Somali women’s views and experiences of physical activity after migration to Sweden. Methods: A qualitative focused ethnographic approach was used in this study. Four focus groups were conducted with twenty-six Somali women ranging from 17 to 67 years of age. Focus group discussions were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: The analysis resulted in four main themes and ten categories:Life in Somalia and Life in Sweden, Understanding and enhancing health and Facilitators and barriers to physical activity. Great differences were seen between living in Somalia and in Sweden but also similarities such as finding time to manage housework, the family and the health of the woman. The extended family is non-existent in Sweden, making life more difficult. Health was considered a gift from God but living a healthy life was perceived as the responsibility of the individual. Misconceptions about enhancing health occurred depending on the woman’s previous life experience and traditions. There was an awareness of the importance of physical activity among the participants but lack of knowledge of how to enhance activity on an individual basis. Enhancing factors to an active lifestyle were identified as being a safe and comfortable environment. Conclusions: Some barriers, such as climate, lack of motivation and time are universal barriers to an active lifestyle, but some factors, such as tradition and religion, are distinctive for Somali women. Since traditional Somali life never involves leisure-time physical activity, one cannot expect to compensate for the low daily activity level with leisure-time activity the Swedish way. Immigrant Somali women are a heterogeneous group with individual needs depending on age, education and background. Tailored interventions with respect to Somali traditions are necessary to achieve an actual increase in physical activity among migrant women of Somalian origin.

Somali women's view of physical activity--a focus group study.

BackgroundPhysical inactivity presents a major public health challenge and is estimated to cause six to ten percent of the major non-communicable diseases. Studies show that immigrants, especially women, have an increased risk of non-communicable diseases compared to ethnic Swedes. Somali immigrant women have increased rates of overweight and obesity, low fitness levels and low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness compared to non-immigrant women. These findings suggest that Somali women are at increased risk of developing lifestyle-related diseases. Few studies explore determinants of physical activity among Somali women. The aim of this study was to explore Somali women’s views and experiences of physical activity after migration to Sweden.MethodsA qualitative focused ethnographic approach was used in this study. Four focus groups were conducted with twenty-six Somali women ranging from 17 to 67 years of age. Focus group discussions were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using qualitative content analysis.ResultsThe analysis resulted in four main themes and ten categories: Life in Somalia and Life in Sweden, Understanding and enhancing health and Facilitators and barriers to physical activity. Great differences were seen between living in Somalia and in Sweden but also similarities such as finding time to manage housework, the family and the health of the woman. The extended family is non-existent in Sweden, making life more difficult. Health was considered a gift from God but living a healthy life was perceived as the responsibility of the individual. Misconceptions about enhancing health occurred depending on the woman’s previous life experience and traditions. There was an awareness of the importance of physical activity among the participants but lack of knowledge of how to enhance activity on an individual basis. Enhancing factors to an active lifestyle were identified as being a safe and comfortable environment.ConclusionsSome barriers, such as climate, lack of motivation and time are universal barriers to an active lifestyle, but some factors, such as tradition and religion, are distinctive for Somali women. Since traditional Somali life never involves leisure-time physical activity, one cannot expect to compensate for the low daily activity level with leisure-time activity the Swedish way. Immigrant Somali women are a heterogeneous group with individual needs depending on age, education and background. Tailored interventions with respect to Somali traditions are necessary to achieve an actual increase in physical activity among migrant women of Somalian origin.

Politische Inszenierung und Instrumentalisierung von Reformationsjubiläen im 20. Jahrhundert in Schweden

As far back as the Early Modern period, Swedish Reformation centenaries were exploited politically. Instead of Martin Luther, the liberation from Denmark (1521) and the Declaration of the Swedish Reformation (1593) were celebrated. From 1817 and 1830, Reformation centenaries were celebrated in a more continental form, but the Confessio Augustana-Celebration was combined with the clebration of Sweden's 'apostle' St.Ansgar. Because many of Luther's writings were not translated into Swedish until the 19th century, this became the century of reading Luther in Sweden. The Reformation centenary 1917 was celebrated throughout Sweden but simultaneously, a new Bible translation was introduced that departed significantly from the traidtions of the Luther Bible. Tow years later, Luther's Small Catechism was abandoned as the foundation of Religious Education in schools. The construction of a Swedish 'Special Path' for the interpretation of the Reformation continued into the 1920s and onwards. The most important commemoration of the Reformation was celebrated in German Lutzen, where a Gustav-Adolf-Chapel had been consecrated on November 6th, 1907. On November 6, 1942, in the heart of the Second World War, Archbishop Erling Eidem preached in the chapel, saying that the celebration should not be autonomous or arrogant, as if the people of Swedish, Nordic, or Germanic origin were superior to any other people or race in the world. Two days later, Dr. Eidem introduced the new Swedish rector in Berlin with a sermon on Romans 1:16 ('...to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.'). In Sweden, the celebrations were used to demonstrate the Swedish consensus on the Christian and the Swedish way (1941), which was understood in Swedish Reformation history as a middle course, 'to be interpreted' as the middle coruse between National Socialism and Communism (1943). Thus, Swedish Church history was exploited for both ecumenical and political purposes. it was not democracy, but religious and cultural unity that was being emphasized. A result of the 1993 Swedish Reformation Centenary was that the Church of Sweden portrayed itself as being on a particular ecumenical 'Special Path', as being Lutheran without Luther. In contrast to the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church, which has been able to combine ecumencial openness with conefessional lutheranism, the Church of Sweden has emphasized its uniqueness in such a way that could risk ecclesiastical isolation on an international level. Although lacking the old national rhetoric, the emphasis on the Swedish 'Special Path' has achieved the same result as the old antional glorification within both the peace initiatives as well as in ecumenical work. As an interpretation of the German Reformation, this pathway is highly questionable. (Less)

Educational marketization the Swedish way

Sweden has commonly been regarded as a striking example of a social democratic welfare-state regime (Esping-Andersen 1996), characterized by strong state governance and active involvement in welfare matters. In the last two decades, however, the Swedish public sector and education system have been radically and extensively transformed in a neo-liberal direction, a move that was preceded by extensive decentralization of decision-making from the state to municipalities and schools. In this article the scope, character and some of the consequences of internal and external marketization of Swedish education in the early 2000s are summarized, and the impact of competition on the internal workings of upper secondary schools is highlighted in particular. We conclude that the external marketization of education has proceeded a long way and Sweden also fully embraces new public management, i.e. ‘inner marketization’, of education in most respects. However, aspects of the older social democratic policy paradigm are still visible with regard to the assigned functions, values and governance of education.

‘We Have Taken Care of our Children according to an African-Swedish Method’: HIV-Infected Ugandan Parents in Sweden

Most HIV-infected parents in Western Europe are of African origin. They face a range of problems while adapting to a new culture and previous research has highlighted the lack of studies on how to support them. In order to deepen our understanding of how they experience their parenthood, we conducted qualitative interviews with 12 HIV-infected Ugandan parents. All participants had access to anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment and, as they continued to feel healthy, they tended to be less worried about leaving their children as orphans. We found that the parenting roles of these people undergo radical transformations, where fathers are expected to perform traditionally female tasks, and mothers are expected to take part in important family decisions with their husbands. An ‘African-Swedish method’ was described where parents had integrated a Swedish way of talking and being close to their children while retaining what they described as the Ugandan style of not informing their children about HIV. Healthcare personnel need to appreciate these HIV-infected African parents' cultural dilemmas and adapt medical information accordingly. We discuss our results from three dimensions of cultural variability: femininity–masculinity, power distance and individualism–collectivism.

But we’re not all Vikings! Intercultural Identity within a Nordic Context

The concept of ‘Scandinavian culture’ is not new: the implicit understanding is that all Nordic states have similar cultural values (Smith et al. 2003). Nevertheless, disturbing cultural differences may still surface even when representatives from similar cultures work together. The purpose of this paper is therefore to understand the intercultural landscape of the Nordic region today and to appreciate the unique cultural values of each nation. The hallmark of Norwegian cultural practices within a Nordic context is seen to be higher gender egalitarianism. The most pronounced Danish cultural trait within a Nordic framework is low power distance. The Finnish culture on the other hand is seen to be the most hierarchical and formal culture in the Nordic region, whereas the Swedish culture is said to mirror values such as 'socially concerned individualism'. Indeed, a subtle equilibrium seems to pervade the Swedish way of behaving – a balance between individualism and social concern.

Quantitative Easing the Swedish Way

Most central banks implement quantitative easing through asset purchases. Sweden took a different path.

Learning perimetry: the Swedish way

Aim: To report experiences from teaching perimetry to ophthalmic nurses during their education at the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Subjects and methods: The number of occasions for performing perimetry, both under supervision and independently, during clinical practice were counted and the students' comments analyzed. A computer program for simulation of manual perimetry using the Goldmann apparatus was developed and tested by 20 students. Results: The number of occasions during which students could practise perimetry was variable, depending on the site where the clinical practice period took place, especially regarding manual Goldmann perimetry. The median number of computerized perimetry examinations performed, both under supervision and independent, was approximately 40. The median number Goldmann perimetry examinations performed was two (range zero to five), all under supervision. The students underwent 5-25 training sessions with the computer program. They reported that the program was easy to use, even fun, and that they appreciated the opportunity to practise when and where they wanted. Some student also reported that the simulation training improved confidence and performance in the real perimetry testing situation. Conclusion: Training in planning, performing and evaluating visual field examinations using computerized perimetry appears to be sufficient during current clinical practice periods, but there is a lack of training possibilities for Goldmann Perimetry. A simulation program provides unlimited training opportunities and can be used in parallel to clinical practice.

Learning perimetry: the Swedish way

Aim: To report experiences from teaching perimetry to ophthalmic nurses during their education at the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Subjects and methods: The number of occasions for performing perimetry, both under supervision and independently, during clinical practice were counted and the students' comments analyzed. A computer program for simulation of manual perimetry using the Goldmann apparatus was developed and tested by 20 students. Results: The number of occasions during which students could practise perimetry was variable, depending on the site where the clinical practice period took place, especially regarding manual Goldmann perimetry. The median number of computerized perimetry examinations performed, both under supervision and independent, was approximately 40. The median number Goldmann perimetry examinations performed was two (range zero to five), all under supervision. The students underwent 5-25 training sessions with the computer program. They reported that the program was easy to use, even fun, and that they appreciated the opportunity to practise when and where they wanted. Some student also reported that the simulation training improved confidence and performance in the real perimetry testing situation. Conclusion: Training in planning, performing and evaluating visual field examinations using computerized perimetry appears to be sufficient during current clinical practice periods, but there is a lack of training possibilities for Goldmann Perimetry. A simulation program provides unlimited training opportunities and can be used in parallel to clinical practice.

Towards ‘universal financialisation’ in Sweden?

The reform of Swedish pensions serves as a case study to explore resistant institutions and logics shaping processes of financialisation in Europe. EU membership cemented the path towards neoliberal restructuring, yet Sweden remained an unlikely case for financialisation by the mid-nineties. Social Democratic principles and practices of de-commodification and redistribution remained dominant with pensions at the core. Reform aimed at changing this by subjecting pensions to financial market performance. The outcome of the project to, in a characteristically Swedish way, ‘universalise’ financialisation is however uncertain. If successful, those challenging the legitimacy of financialisation elsewhere in Europe lose a ‘social democratic’ reference point in their struggle.

Democracy the Swedish Way? The Exclusion of ‘Immigrants’ in Swedish Politics

Official declarations state that Sweden is today a multicultural society. At the same time, ethnic hierarchies have become increasingly conspicuous in contemporary Sweden. Recently, a governmental inquiry on structural discrimination in Swedish society presented a report analysing the relationship between the multi‐ethnic composition of the Swedish population and participation in Swedish politics. This article discusses some of the main findings of the report. On the basis of a number of case studies, it illustrates how inequalities in terms of participation and influence in Swedish politics are (re)produced. One of the main conclusions drawn in the article is that all citizens that participate in Swedish politics are faced with a series of routines, conventions and idea(l)s categorising citizens according to their perceived closeness to a Swedish ‘normality’. Thus, democracy not only constitutes a formalised system of impartial procedures and conventions, routines and norms that regulate the political process in a way that guarantees freedom and equality to all participants. Rather, political participation also reflects exclusionary practices long well‐documented in, for example, the housing and labour markets. In order to understand these practices, it is necessary to examine the historical interconnections between nationalism and democracy. By means of the recurrent characterisation of Swedish democracy as specifically Swedish, it becomes the job of Swedes to ‘enlighten’ the ‘immigrants’ to become ‘Swedish democrats’. This specific conceptualisation of democracy is founded on the ideal of an archaic national community, which in contemporary multi‐ethnic Sweden is not capable of including the whole population on equal terms.

Europeanization through football. The cross-cultural impact of Jürgen Klinsmann and Sven-Göran Eriksson in England

It has been argued that the globalization of football, and particularly its growing cost, is causing the game to neglect its local roots. According to this point of view, football should never forget to think local and act local. However, if football does this to an extreme degree, xenophobia, racism and bigotry can find expression. The internationalization of the game and specifically its Europeanization in England show that such developments can act as an antidote to the unacceptable aspects of football’s local dimension. In one season as a player for Tottenham Hotspur, a club with strong Jewish connections, German football star Jürgen Klinsmann succeeded in calling into question outdated stereotypes of Germany and the Germans by means of his sense of humour and his gentlemanly conduct. As manager of England’s national football team at the beginning of the new millennium, the urbane Swede Sven-Göran Eriksson, who was also identified as possessing the gentlemanly qualities that had apparently become rare in English sport, showed that not being “one of us” was an asset. His management style was refreshingly non-English and attracted widespread interest in the Swedish way of running things as an attractive alternative to English management methods.

Internationalisation at Home From a Swedish Perspective: The Case of Malmö

This article will describe the development of the Internationalisation at Home (IaH) perspective emerging from the Swedish way of looking at the core of internationalisation. The IaH concept was “born” in Malmö in 1998 and has—with aid from a large IaH network—become of great concern for higher education at many universities both in Europe and other parts of the world. The basic idea has been to try to let the internationalisation process embrace the whole university: all staff and all students—not only the 10% of the mobile students and a few professors. The article aims to examine and discuss different strategies for implementing the IaH ideas with examples from Malmö University, possible solutions as well as problems and obstacles.

Migration challenges views on sexuality

The purpose of this study is to inquire into whether there are any patterns to indicate that Iranian migrants residing in Sweden have changed their views on sexuality since the time of their migration. Using qualitative research methodology, this study examines possible changes due to the transition between two cultures and how these changes may affect views on sexuality, partner choices, and so forth. The results of the study indicate that the encounter with the Swedish way of thinking and the Swedish sexual culture seems to have influenced Iranians' views on sexuality: the traditional authoritarian patriarchal sexual relationship among Iranian migrants in Sweden is giving way to more egalitarian relationships and a relatively strong tendency towards a similarity of views between the sexes regarding sexuality can be observed. The important change noted in regard to sexuality is, however, the evolving of individualism both in regard to sexual ­decision-making and forms of relationships.