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  • 1.
    Aarebrot, Frank
    et al.
    Institutt for sammenliknende politikk, Universitetet i Bergen.
    Berglund, Sten
    Örebro University, Department of Social and Political Sciences.
    Statehood, Secularisation, Cooperation: Explaining Democratic Survival in Inter-War Europe - Stein Rokkan's Conceptual Map Revisited1995In: Historical social research / Historische Sozialforschung, ISSN 0172-6404, Vol. 20, no 2, p. 210-225Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    This article addresses itself to the crisis of democracy in inter-war Europe which saw the breakdown of one democratic regime after the other with Czechoslovakia as the only survivor case in Eastern and Central Europe by the end of this period. It is cast within the framework of Stein Rokkan's seminal conceptual map of Europe which is expanded in order to account for countries and variables originally not included in his analytical scheme. The analysis leads to the following conclusion: where the state building was weak and the legacy of empire strong, or where secular nation building was still impaired by deeply rooted religious sentiments, or where significant segments representing major cleavages where not coopted into a constitutional compromise, the chances for democratic survival in inter-war Europe were slim indeed. The conclusion applies to the inter-war era alone, but it clearly has implications for contemporary Europe. Noting that statehood and secularization ranked high on the agenda of communist Eastern Europe, the authors raise the paradoxical question if the success of democracy in this part of the world may in fact be a byproduct of the extent to which the now defunct communist regimes were successful in promoting their pet goals.

  • 2.
    Aarebrot, Frank
    et al.
    Institutt for sammenliknende politikk, Universitetet i Bergen.
    Berglund, Sten
    Örebro University, Department of Social and Political Sciences.
    Weninger, Thomas
    Institute of Political Science, University of Vienna.
    The View from EFTA1998In: Public Opinion and Internationalized Governance / [ed] Oskar Niedermayer, Richard Sinnott, Oxford: Oxford University Press , 1998, p. 344-367Chapter in book (Other academic)
    Abstract [en]

     This chapter examines public opinion regarding European Community integration in the five small but comparatively prosperous countries in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). The evidence reveals a split. On the one hand, there is the positive endorsement expressed in Austria, Finland and Sweden; on the other, there is the negative assessment expressed in Norway and Switzerland. This ambivalence confirms that the impact of centre-periphery location is complex. Moreover, as the Norwegian and Swiss cases indicate, the centre-periphery cleavage within countries is as relevant as that between countries to an understanding of support for internationalized governance.

  • 3.
    Abdelzadeh, Ali
    Örebro University, School of Law, Psychology and Social Work.
    Den missnöjda demokraten: Ungas politiska missnöje och engagemang i en tid av förändring2015Report (Other (popular science, discussion, etc.))
  • 4.
    Abdelzadeh, Ali
    Örebro University, Department of Social and Political Sciences.
    Kvinnor i en mansdominerad värld: En jämförande studie om kvinnors representation i de etablerade demokratiernas parlament2008Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (One Year)), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [en]

    The purpose of this study is to map out and to analyze the spatial variation of female representation at the national level in established democracies. The aim is also to explain the variation in the female representation. The main questions that the paper tries to answer are:

    1.How does women representation in established democratic parliaments vary?

    2.Why does women representation in established democratic parliaments vary?

    This study is a comparative and statistic study, i.e. a study that includes a bigger number of countries and where quantitative analysis methods are used in order to achieve comparative analyses. This study is both a descriptive and an explanatory study. The statistical method that is used in this study is mainly bivariat analysis and multivariat regression.

    The results show that the variation in female representation in the established democracies is quite considerable. Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Netherlands feature high female representation at the national level during the period 1995-2005. The result also implies that the proportion of women in parliament increases during the current period. The result also shows that political institutions, socio-economic -and cultural factors, are important and necessary in order to explain the variation in female representation. The overall standards that can be discerned of the statistical analyses is that the proportion of women in parliament is higher in countries with a proportional electoral system, high number of parliament members, high socio-economic development (high HDI, GDI and GNP per capita) contemporary as the country introduced female suffrage in an early stage and have a more positive attitude toward female leadership.

    Download full text (pdf)
    FULLTEXT01
  • 5.
    Abdelzadeh, Ali
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    The impact of political conviction on the relation between winning or losing and political dissatisfaction: findings from Sweden2014In: SAGE Open, E-ISSN 2158-2440, Sage Open, ISSN ISSN 2158-2440, Vol. 4, no 2Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Election outcomes, or more specifically belonging to a political minority or majority, have a significant impact on citizens’ attitudes toward the political system and political involvement. This study aims to broaden our understanding in these regards by taking into account the effects of people’s political convictions on the relation between belonging to a political minority or majority and their dissatisfaction with the performance of the political system. Using a person-oriented approach, four groups of citizens were identified on the basis of their attachment to political parties. The group of people who were not politically attached to any of the political parties were the most dissatisfied, whereas supporters of parties in government were the least dissatisfied. Moreover, supporters of opposition parties who had high levels of political conviction were more dissatisfied than supporters of opposition parties who had lower levels of political conviction. Overall, the findings of this study show that it is crucial to take into account the individual characteristics of citizens when studying the relations between election outcomes and political attitudes.

    Download full text (pdf)
    fulltext
  • 6.
    Abdelzadeh, Ali
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Transcending dichotomies: The many faces of youth dissatisfaction in democracy2014Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
    Abstract [en]

    In the recent scholarly debates over changing citizenship attitudes and norms in advanced democracies, especially when it comes to rising levels of political dissatisfaction, opinion about the political role of young people is divided. For some scholars, they represent a driving force behind the development of new kinds of citizenship values, and constitute an asset to the functioning of political systems. For others, they pose a potential threat to the health of representative democracy, because of their increasing levels of dissatisfaction and civic disengagement. By contrast with these two competing approaches, this dissertation advances the argument that a more balanced view of young people’s political activities is called for. Adopting a quantitative approach, it aims therefore to contribute to better theoretical and empirical understanding of young people’s political dissatisfaction, and to explain their role in a democratic society. Considering different aspects of dissatisfaction, the current dissertation contributes to previous research in significant ways. Among others things, it adds to our knowledge by showing empirically that, in terms of political dissatisfaction, young people constitute a heterogeneous group, with different political roles and profiles, ranging from the healthy to the more threatening. Moreover, it contributes to previous research by highlighting the crucial role played by fair teachers in providing linkages between young citizens and the wider political system. All in all, the findings in the current dissertation have implications for the ongoing debate over the role and significance of young people in the functioning of democratic systems, and also for political socialization research.

    List of papers
    1. Understanding critical citizenship and other forms of public dissatisfaction: an alternative framework
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>Understanding critical citizenship and other forms of public dissatisfaction: an alternative framework
    2012 (English)In: Politics, Culture and Socialization, ISSN 1866-3427, E-ISSN 2196-1417, Vol. 3, no 1-2, p. 179-196Article in journal (Refereed) Published
    Abstract [en]

    Previous research has paid much attention to citizen dissatisfaction and the trends of growing political disaffection, cynicism, and scepticism – in short, the emergence of 'critical citizens'. Also, more recently, critical citizens have sometimes been viewed as an asset for democracy. However, despite both pessimistic and optimistic interpretations of public criticism, the issue of conceptualizing negative attitudes has received less attention. The present study was conducted to enrich understanding of this particular dimension of citizens' attitudes. To this end, the paper suggests an alternative theoretical framework for analysing various forms of negative political orientations. The framework has been tested empirically using three types of statistical procedures, which demonstrate its validity and usefulness.

    Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
    Verlag Barbara Budrich, 2012
    Keywords
    Critical citizens, political dissatisfaction, political disaffection, negative political orientations, political attitudes, youths
    National Category
    Political Science
    Research subject
    Political Science
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-27846 (URN)
    Projects
    PSP, Political Socialisation Program
    Available from: 2013-03-04 Created: 2013-03-04 Last updated: 2022-10-18Bibliographically approved
    2. Dissatisfied citizens: an asset or a burden in democratic functioning of a society?
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>Dissatisfied citizens: an asset or a burden in democratic functioning of a society?
    (English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
    Abstract [en]

    Past research has shown that, whereas the majority of people in democracies support the idea of democracy as a form of governance, some citizens are dissatisfied with the democratic institutions and the way democracy performs. In this paper, we examined democratic characteristics of dissatisfied youths to understand the role they play in the democratic functioning of a society. Based on youth’s dissatisfaction with the performance of political institutions and the principles of democracy, we identified four groups distinct of citizens. Then, we compared these groups in terms of their political engagement, knowledge and interest, values and attitudes, and law breaking attitudes. The results showed that youths with high levels of principle- and performance-driven dissatisfaction were less likely to participate in politics, less knowledgeable and interested in political issues, and more likely to break the laws, even if people got hurt compared to other three groups. In contrast, youths who were only dissatisfied with the performance of democratic institutions were more likely to participate in politics, and have higher humanistic values and tolerance towards immigrants. By examining distinct groups of dissatisfied citizens and their democratic characteristics, the current study contributes to the general debate on the role of dissatisfied citizens in democracies.

    Keywords
    dissatisfied citizen, critical citizen, performance-driven dissatisfaction, principledriven dissatisfaction, democracy, attitudes to law-breaking
    National Category
    Political Science
    Research subject
    Political Science
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-35330 (URN)
    Available from: 2014-06-11 Created: 2014-06-11 Last updated: 2017-10-17Bibliographically approved
    3. The impact of political conviction on the relation between winning or losing and political dissatisfaction: findings from Sweden
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>The impact of political conviction on the relation between winning or losing and political dissatisfaction: findings from Sweden
    2014 (English)In: SAGE Open, E-ISSN 2158-2440, Sage Open, ISSN ISSN 2158-2440, Vol. 4, no 2Article in journal (Refereed) Published
    Abstract [en]

    Election outcomes, or more specifically belonging to a political minority or majority, have a significant impact on citizens’ attitudes toward the political system and political involvement. This study aims to broaden our understanding in these regards by taking into account the effects of people’s political convictions on the relation between belonging to a political minority or majority and their dissatisfaction with the performance of the political system. Using a person-oriented approach, four groups of citizens were identified on the basis of their attachment to political parties. The group of people who were not politically attached to any of the political parties were the most dissatisfied, whereas supporters of parties in government were the least dissatisfied. Moreover, supporters of opposition parties who had high levels of political conviction were more dissatisfied than supporters of opposition parties who had lower levels of political conviction. Overall, the findings of this study show that it is crucial to take into account the individual characteristics of citizens when studying the relations between election outcomes and political attitudes.

    Keywords
    political dissatisfaction, political attachment, election outcomes, political conviction, political minority, political majority
    National Category
    Political Science
    Research subject
    Political Science
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-35056 (URN)10.1177/2158244014535414 (DOI)2-s2.0-84907259357 (Scopus ID)
    Available from: 2014-05-15 Created: 2014-05-15 Last updated: 2024-01-17Bibliographically approved
    4. Procedural fairness and political trust among young people: evidence from a panel study on Swedish high school students
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>Procedural fairness and political trust among young people: evidence from a panel study on Swedish high school students
    2015 (English)In: Acta Politica, ISSN 0001-6810, E-ISSN 1741-1416, Vol. 50, no 3, p. 253-278Article in journal (Other academic) Published
    Abstract [en]

    The role of ‘fair’ institutions in developing democratic legitimacy has received increased attention. Citizens who perceive – on basis of past experiences – that they are being treated fairly by authorities have been held to have greater trust in political institutions. However, previous studies on the relationship between procedural fairness and political trust have not paid sufficient attention to individuals with limited first-hand experiences of authorities. We examine the relationship on an authority that virtually all individuals meet early in life: the school. Using structural equation modeling on unique panel data covering 1,500 Swedish adolescents (ages ranging from 13 to 17), we find a reciprocal relationship: personal encounters with school authorities shape young people’s political trust; however, the images that adolescents get of the political system (through family, peers, media, etc.) have also consequences on their perceptions about the authorities they encounter in their daily lives. The analysis increases our understanding of how individuals form their political allegiances by showing that the relationship between fairness and trust is more dynamic than has previously been suggested: neither an accumulated set of experiences of authorities nor formal ties with political institutions (as voters, etc.) are required for a relationship to emerge. 

    Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
    Palgrave Macmillan Ltd., 2015
    Keywords
    Procedural fairness, political trust, reciprocal, school, adolescents, Sweden, structural equation modeling
    National Category
    Political Science
    Research subject
    Political Science
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-35331 (URN)10.1057/ap.2014.22 (DOI)000359176500001 ()2-s2.0-84935471543 (Scopus ID)
    Note

    This study was made possible by access to data from the Political Socialization Program, a longitudinal research program at YeS (Youth & Society) at Örebro University, Sweden. Responsible for the planning, implementation, and financing of the collection of data in this project were Professors Erik Amnå, Mats Ekström, Margaret Kerr, and Håkan Stattin. The data collection was supported by grants from the Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation. Moreover, the participation of Pär Zetterberg in the writing of this study was made possible by a grant from the Swedish Research Council.

    Available from: 2014-06-11 Created: 2014-06-11 Last updated: 2023-12-08Bibliographically approved
    Download (pdf)
    Cover
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    Spikblad
  • 7.
    Abdelzadeh, Ali
    Örebro University, Department of Social and Political Sciences.
    Turkiet: en konsoliderad demokrati?2007Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (One Year)), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
  • 8. Abdelzadeh, Ali
    et al.
    Amnå, Erik
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Fitzgerald, Jennifer
    University of Colorado, Boulder, USA.
    The popularization of unpopular ideas: Discord among friends and intolerance toward immigrants in Sweden2016Conference paper (Refereed)
  • 9.
    Abdelzadeh, Ali
    et al.
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences. Youth & Society.
    Amnå, Erik
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences. Youth & Society.
    Lundberg, Erik
    Ersta Sköndal University College, Stockholm, Sweden.
    En arena för tillit och tolerans?2016In: Föreningen, jaget och laget: 7 perspektiv på idrottens demokratiska effekter, Stockholm: Centrum för idrottsforskning , 2016, p. 27-46Chapter in book (Other (popular science, discussion, etc.))
    Download full text (pdf)
    En arena för tillit och tolerans?
  • 10.
    Abdelzadeh, Ali
    et al.
    Örebro University, School of Law, Psychology and Social Work.
    Dahl, Viktor
    Örebro University, School of Law, Psychology and Social Work.
    Bilaga 2: En utvärdering av Skolval 20102015In: Öva och ta ställning: En utvärdering av arbetet med skolvalen 2014 / [ed] Björnstam, Linnea, Myndigheten för ungdoms- och civilsamhällesfrågor , 2015, , p. 9p. 47-55Chapter in book (Other (popular science, discussion, etc.))
    Abstract [sv]

    Syftet med denna rapport är att: (a) redogöra för vilka elever som deltog i skolvalet 2010, (b) samt undersöka huruvida deltagandet i skolvalet har någon effekt på ungas intresse för politik/samhällsfrågor, politiska diskussioner med föräldrar och vänner, intention att rösta i framtida val samt politiskt deltagande. För denna undersökning används först och främst enkätdata från Political socialization Project (PSP); en pågående longitudinell studie som undersöker framväxten av unga människors politiska attityder och engagemang (Amnå, Ekström, Kerr & Stattin, 2009). Analyserna i denna rapport omfattar endast elever i PSP-studien vars skola anmält till Myndigheten för ungdoms- och civilsamhällesfrågor att de genomfört skolval. Totalt omfattar de analyser som denna rapport baseras på 3 högstadieskolor och 3 gymnasieskolor vilket sammantaget blir 860 elever.

  • 11.
    Abdelzadeh, Ali
    et al.
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Ekman, Joakim
    Centrum för Östersjö- och Östeuropaforskning (CBEES), Södertörns högskola, , Stockholm, Sweden.
    Understanding critical citizenship and other forms of public dissatisfaction: an alternative framework2012In: Politics, Culture and Socialization, ISSN 1866-3427, E-ISSN 2196-1417, Vol. 3, no 1-2, p. 179-196Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Previous research has paid much attention to citizen dissatisfaction and the trends of growing political disaffection, cynicism, and scepticism – in short, the emergence of 'critical citizens'. Also, more recently, critical citizens have sometimes been viewed as an asset for democracy. However, despite both pessimistic and optimistic interpretations of public criticism, the issue of conceptualizing negative attitudes has received less attention. The present study was conducted to enrich understanding of this particular dimension of citizens' attitudes. To this end, the paper suggests an alternative theoretical framework for analysing various forms of negative political orientations. The framework has been tested empirically using three types of statistical procedures, which demonstrate its validity and usefulness.

  • 12.
    Abdelzadeh, Ali
    et al.
    Örebro University, School of Law, Psychology and Social Work.
    Idris, Ahmedi
    Stockholms universitet, Stockholm, Sweden.
    Iran2015In: Komparativ politik: nio politiska system / [ed] Carsten Anckar och Thomas Denk, Lund: Studentlitteratur AB, 2015, 1, p. 267-293Chapter in book (Other academic)
  • 13.
    Abdelzadeh, Ali
    et al.
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Zetterberg, Pär
    Department of Government, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
    Ekman, Joakim
    Centre for Baltic and East European Studies (CBEES), Södertörn University, Huddinge, Sweden.
    Procedural fairness and political trust among young people: evidence from a panel study on Swedish high school students2015In: Acta Politica, ISSN 0001-6810, E-ISSN 1741-1416, Vol. 50, no 3, p. 253-278Article in journal (Other academic)
    Abstract [en]

    The role of ‘fair’ institutions in developing democratic legitimacy has received increased attention. Citizens who perceive – on basis of past experiences – that they are being treated fairly by authorities have been held to have greater trust in political institutions. However, previous studies on the relationship between procedural fairness and political trust have not paid sufficient attention to individuals with limited first-hand experiences of authorities. We examine the relationship on an authority that virtually all individuals meet early in life: the school. Using structural equation modeling on unique panel data covering 1,500 Swedish adolescents (ages ranging from 13 to 17), we find a reciprocal relationship: personal encounters with school authorities shape young people’s political trust; however, the images that adolescents get of the political system (through family, peers, media, etc.) have also consequences on their perceptions about the authorities they encounter in their daily lives. The analysis increases our understanding of how individuals form their political allegiances by showing that the relationship between fairness and trust is more dynamic than has previously been suggested: neither an accumulated set of experiences of authorities nor formal ties with political institutions (as voters, etc.) are required for a relationship to emerge. 

  • 14.
    Abdelzadeh, Ali
    et al.
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Özdemir, Metin
    Örebro University, School of Law, Psychology and Social Work.
    Van Zalk, Maarten
    Örebro University, School of Law, Psychology and Social Work.
    Dissatisfied citizens: an asset or a burden in democratic functioning of a society?Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
    Abstract [en]

    Past research has shown that, whereas the majority of people in democracies support the idea of democracy as a form of governance, some citizens are dissatisfied with the democratic institutions and the way democracy performs. In this paper, we examined democratic characteristics of dissatisfied youths to understand the role they play in the democratic functioning of a society. Based on youth’s dissatisfaction with the performance of political institutions and the principles of democracy, we identified four groups distinct of citizens. Then, we compared these groups in terms of their political engagement, knowledge and interest, values and attitudes, and law breaking attitudes. The results showed that youths with high levels of principle- and performance-driven dissatisfaction were less likely to participate in politics, less knowledgeable and interested in political issues, and more likely to break the laws, even if people got hurt compared to other three groups. In contrast, youths who were only dissatisfied with the performance of democratic institutions were more likely to participate in politics, and have higher humanistic values and tolerance towards immigrants. By examining distinct groups of dissatisfied citizens and their democratic characteristics, the current study contributes to the general debate on the role of dissatisfied citizens in democracies.

  • 15.
    Abdelzadeh, Ali
    et al.
    Örebro University, School of Law, Psychology and Social Work.
    Özdemir, Metin
    Örebro University, School of Law, Psychology and Social Work.
    Van Zalk, Maarten
    Örebro University, School of Law, Psychology and Social Work.
    Dissatisfied Citizens: An Asset to or a Liability on the Democratic Functioning of Society?2015In: Scandinavian Political Studies, ISSN 0080-6757, E-ISSN 1467-9477, Vol. 38, no 4, p. 410-436Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Past research has shown that, although a majority of citizens in democracies support the idea of democracy as a form of governance, some tend to be distrustful of democratic institutions and express dissatisfaction with the way democracy works. It is argued in this article that to better understand the role of various groups of dissatisfied citizens in the democratic functioning of a society, one should examine their democratic characteristics. Based on youth's dissatisfaction with the performance of political institutions and the principles of democracy, four distinct groups of citizens are identified. These groups are then compared in terms of their political engagement, knowledge and interest, values and attitudes, and disposition to break the law. The results showed that youths with high levels of principle- and performance-driven dissatisfaction were less likely to participate in politics, less knowledgeable and interested in political issues, and more likely to break the law, even if people got hurt compared with other groups. In contrast, youths who were only dissatisfied with the performance of democratic institutions were more likely to participate in politics, and had higher tolerance towards immigrants, and political interest and knowledge. They were also more likely, peacefully and without harming other people, to break the law to change society. Overall, by examining distinct groups of dissatisfied citizens and their democratic characteristics, this study contributes to the general debate on the role of dissatisfied citizens in democracies.

  • 16.
    Abdul Khalil, Rohina
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    HUR PÅVERKAR EUROPEISERINGEN SVERIGES UTRIKESDEKLARATIONER?: Perioden 1988 - 20122014Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
  • 17.
    Abrahamsson, Hannah
    et al.
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Söderfeldt, Emma
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Kunskapsstaden Malmö -En ideologianalys av nyliberalismens inflytande ikunskapsstaden Malmö2020Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [en]

    The study aims to analyze the City of Malmö's vision of a city of knowledge and the extent towhich neoliberalism is in the transformation, from a classic industrial city to an informationsociety. The Western Harbor and Hyllie projects seem to be potential areas to be developed inMalmö to achieve it so-called city of knowledge. This essay comes through a content analysisand idea analysis of the empirical material, analyzed based on four dimensions thatcharacterize the neoliberal ideology. The study's theoretical starting points are based on JanHylen's theory of "dimensions" and are useful for identifying and analyzing ideologies. Thechosen dimensions that are categorized are, the ideology's human view, social theory,economic ideals and view of morality. The results showed that there is a strong neoliberalinfluence in the planning of the city of knowledge Malmö. The dimensions are expressed inthe planning of both Västra hamnen and Hyllie.

    Download full text (pdf)
    fulltext
  • 18.
    Adenskog, Magnus
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    After the Equilibrium: Democratic Innovations and Long-term Institutional Development in the City of Reykjavik2018In: Analyse & Kritik. Zeitung für linke Debatte und Praxis, ISSN 0171-5860, E-ISSN 2365-9858, Vol. 40, no 1, p. 31-53Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Although democratic innovations (DIs) are spread all over the world, there is little research on the institutional outcomes of implementing such innovations in governmental organisations. To remedy this, it is important to focus on cases where DIs have been implemented and formally connected to the policymaking process over a longer period. Reykjavik provides such a case. Drawing on observations and interviews with key stakeholders over a period of three years, this study analyses how the institutional logic of DIs influenced the local government in Reykjavik. The study presents two conclusions: First, it is clear that one equilibrium (representative democracy) has not been replaced by another (participatory democracy). Second, there is no peaceful co-existence between the two, but instead the outcome is an organisation in ‘a state of flux’. There are several factors contributing to this outcome, but three stand out: a populist power-shift, dissatisfaction with theworking of the implemented DIs and deliberative ambiguity. In the final part of the article, the institutional outcome is discussed in relation to overall consequences for the political system.

  • 19.
    Adenskog, Magnus
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Democratic innovations in political systems: towards a systemic approach2018Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
    Abstract [en]

    There are many indicators that the representative democratic system is currently facing serious legitimacy challenges. Two central indicators of these challenges are changing patterns of political participation and a decline in system support. Against this backdrop, a growing number of governments claim that democratic innovations (DIs) could reconnect institutions with citizens. This thesis focuses on online DIs implemented in real political contexts, and the overarching aim of the thesis is to contribute to the emergent empirical scholarship on how DIs can influence political systems. In the last two decades, most empirical studies in the field have analysed DIs at the micro level.

    This thesis takes a different stance by posing system-related research questions to the implementation of DIs and, by doing so, showing how DIs are interrelated with, rather than isolated from, the political system and that DIs can influence political systems. The thesis consists of one literature review and three empirical case studies, applying a multiple methodological approach. Its novelty lies in three main empirical findings that contribute to the development of the field. First, it shows that participation in DIs can influence citizens’ perceived trust towards local political institutions. In addition, the results suggest that predispositions and prior engagement mediate the direction of change in trust amongst citizens. Secondly, the results show that DIs can perform different political functions, such as facilitating spaces for citizens to provide original ideas and deliberation, while also having an agenda-setting function. Thirdly, the result suggest that long-term institutional change is complex and that the implementation of DIs can create a situation in which civil servants and politicians perceive their organisation to be in some ‘state of flux’, as they are torn between two competing institutional logics. In conclusion, this thesis should be understood as a piece in a broader movement that works towards a systemic approach to the study of DIs, and that by showing these empirical findings, the thesis contributes to deepening our understanding of what influences and functions DIs can have in political systems.

    List of papers
    1. The Challenges for Online Deliberation Research: A Literature Review
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>The Challenges for Online Deliberation Research: A Literature Review
    2014 (English)In: International Journal of E-Politics, ISSN 1947-9131, E-ISSN 1947-914X, Vol. 5, no 1Article in journal (Refereed) Published
    Abstract [en]

    While pure deliberation has still not been found online, the field of online deliberation research is blossoming. Born out of the “frustrations and possibilities” of the 1990s, a current theme in the field is to re-link deliberative theory with empirical political science. The aim of this systematic literature review is to sort out and examine important features of this development; to identify and categorise important research themes and issues as well as to pinpoint some research gaps. Using citation analysis as a method for article selection, 788 abstracts were retrieved and out of these, 130 items were chosen for further analysis. First the review shows that researchers from several different disciplines are involved in the field and that these researchers are studying online deliberation in a variety of arenas aided by a wide range of methods. Second the review reveals that the field struggles with a highly diversified concept of deliberation; that newer theoretical developments are underutilised in the operationalisation of theoretical concepts for empirical analyses, and that it there is a rather low degree of cumulativity in the field. Finally, more attention is paid on deliberation per se, rather than the political and democratic consequences of deliberation.

    Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
    IGI Global, 2014
    Keywords
    Deliberation, internet, deliberative democracy, literature review, online deliberation
    National Category
    Political Science
    Research subject
    Political Science
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-32418 (URN)10.4018/ijep.2014010101 (DOI)
    Available from: 2013-11-15 Created: 2013-11-15 Last updated: 2024-01-03Bibliographically approved
    2. Democratic Innovations in Deliberative Systems: the Case of the Estonian Citizens’ Assembly Process
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>Democratic Innovations in Deliberative Systems: the Case of the Estonian Citizens’ Assembly Process
    2015 (English)In: Journal of Public Deliberation, E-ISSN 1937-2841, Vol. 11, no 1, article id 7Article in journal (Refereed) Published
    Abstract [en]

    With the proliferation and application of democratic innovations around the world, the empirical study of deliberative and participatory processes has shifted from small-scale environments and experiments to real-life political processes on a large scale. With this shift, there is also a need to explore new theoretical approaches in order to understand current developments. Instead of analyzing democratic innovations in isolation, the recent ‘systemic turn’ in the field encourages us to broaden our perspective and evaluate democratic innovations as complementary parts of a political system.

    This paper will draw upon a qualitative case study, based on interview and supported by survey data, of the ‘Estonian Citizens’ Assembly Process’ (ECA), in order to operationalize the systemic approach to deliberative democracy and illustrate how this can be applied to an analysis of democratic innovations.

    The ECA spanned more than a year (November 2012 to April 2014) and covered three political arenas: the public sphere, democratic innovations and representative institutions. The systemic analysis highlights the deliberative strengths and weaknesses of arenas and institutions, and illuminates how various arenas and democratic innovations did and did not complement one another in the creation of a deliberative process. The systemic analysis offers two possible interpretations of the ECA. The more affirmative interpretation is it constituted a deliberative system, as it did perform the three main functions fulfilled by different arenas and institutions. The more critical interpretation is that the ECA partly failed to be a deliberative system, due to social domination and decoupling of institutions.

    Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
    International Association for Public Participation, 2015
    Keywords
    Democratic innovations, deliberative systems, crowdsourcing, ICTs, deliberative democracy
    National Category
    Political Science (excluding Public Administration Studies and Globalisation Studies)
    Research subject
    Political Science
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-39681 (URN)10.16997/jdd.224 (DOI)
    Available from: 2014-12-15 Created: 2014-12-15 Last updated: 2024-01-03Bibliographically approved
    3. Democratic Innovations: Reinforcing or changing perceptions of trust?
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>Democratic Innovations: Reinforcing or changing perceptions of trust?
    2017 (English)In: International Journal of Public Administration, ISSN 0190-0692, E-ISSN 1532-4265, Vol. 40, no 7, p. 575-587Article in journal (Refereed) Published
    Abstract [en]

    Declining trust in representative institutions is considered one of the most significant political problems of our time. It is often suggested that democratic innovations—or mechanisms which aim to increase and deepen citizen participation in the political decision-making process—can help reverse this trend. However, empirical research about actual effects of participation on trust is scarce, and weakened by causality problems. With survey data representing 1,470 participants in a landmark Swedish e-petition system, the article shows that both generalized attitudes and process evaluations matter in how trust is affected by democratic innovations.

    Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
    Taylor & Francis, 2017
    Keywords
    Citizen participation; democratic innovations; e-petitions; public trust
    National Category
    Political Science (excluding Public Administration Studies and Globalisation Studies)
    Research subject
    Political Science
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-48957 (URN)10.1080/01900692.2016.1162801 (DOI)000415699700004 ()2-s2.0-84978523941 (Scopus ID)
    Projects
    Building pervasive participation
    Funder
    Swedish Research Council Formas
    Available from: 2016-03-04 Created: 2016-03-04 Last updated: 2018-09-26Bibliographically approved
    4. After the Equilibrium: Democratic Innovations and Long-term Institutional Development in the City of Reykjavik
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>After the Equilibrium: Democratic Innovations and Long-term Institutional Development in the City of Reykjavik
    2018 (English)In: Analyse & Kritik. Zeitung für linke Debatte und Praxis, ISSN 0171-5860, E-ISSN 2365-9858, Vol. 40, no 1, p. 31-53Article in journal (Refereed) Published
    Abstract [en]

    Although democratic innovations (DIs) are spread all over the world, there is little research on the institutional outcomes of implementing such innovations in governmental organisations. To remedy this, it is important to focus on cases where DIs have been implemented and formally connected to the policymaking process over a longer period. Reykjavik provides such a case. Drawing on observations and interviews with key stakeholders over a period of three years, this study analyses how the institutional logic of DIs influenced the local government in Reykjavik. The study presents two conclusions: First, it is clear that one equilibrium (representative democracy) has not been replaced by another (participatory democracy). Second, there is no peaceful co-existence between the two, but instead the outcome is an organisation in ‘a state of flux’. There are several factors contributing to this outcome, but three stand out: a populist power-shift, dissatisfaction with theworking of the implemented DIs and deliberative ambiguity. In the final part of the article, the institutional outcome is discussed in relation to overall consequences for the political system.

    Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
    Lucius und Lucius Verlagsgesellschaft, 2018
    Keywords
    Democratic innovations, ICT, local government, institutional logics
    National Category
    Political Science (excluding Public Administration Studies and Globalisation Studies)
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-69066 (URN)10.1515/auk-2018-0002 (DOI)2-s2.0-85048634224 (Scopus ID)
    Available from: 2018-09-26 Created: 2018-09-26 Last updated: 2018-11-19Bibliographically approved
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    Democratic innovations in political systems: towards a systemic approach
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  • 20.
    Adenskog, Magnus
    et al.
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences. Urban Studies.
    Åström, Joachim
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences. Urban Studies.
    Eirtö, Tatiana
    Department of Social Research, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
    Karlsson, Martin
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences. Urban Studies.
    Ruoppila, Sampo
    Department of Social Research, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
    Thiel, Sarah-Kristin
    Austrian Institute of Technology, Vienna, Austria.
    Balancing Potential and Risk: The Living Lab Approach in Mobile Participation Research2017In: Lecture Notes in Computer Science, ISSN 0302-9743, E-ISSN 1611-3349, no 10429, p. 12-23Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Living labs as a research approach have been said to hold many promises regarding the evaluation of state-of-the art technologies in real-world contexts, for instance by allowing close cooperation with various stakeholders. At the same time, a living lab approach is connected with substantial complexity and increased risk. This paper elaborates on a conducted living lab with the objective to explore challenges and opportunities of mobile participation. For this purpose, a novel mobile application enabling interaction between citizens and city authorities was tested over a period of five months in Turku, Finland. In this paper, we describe identified risks associated with a living lab approach to mobile participation research. We conclude with an overall evaluation regarding the appropriateness of the living lab approach within the e-participation research field and provide recommendations on how to balance potential and risk in future projects. 

    Download full text (pdf)
    Balancing Potential and Risk: The Living Lab Approach in Mobile Participation Research
  • 21.
    Adolphson, Linda
    et al.
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Svensson, Hanna
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    TJÄNSTEPERSONERS MAKT I KOMMUNALA FÖRVALTNINGAR -En studie om likheter och skillnader av tjänstepersoners makt i en större och en mindre svensk kommun2019Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [en]

    There is a democratic ideal that politicians are the decision- and policymakers while the public servants should serve as their policy executers. However, this ideal could be questioned as the public servants also have the capacity to make decisions that concerns the citizens. This thesis answers the questions whether there are differences and similarities of power held by the public servants in one larger and one smaller Swedish municipality, and if there is a larger extent to power for the public servants in the smaller municipality. By analysing and comparing interviews and control documents this study shows that the public servants in the larger municipality may have less power because of a different structure of the organisation and more political frameworks that regulate the administration. The public servants in the smaller municipality have more power in contributing ideas and knowledge for decision-making and implementation. It’s easier for the executive manager in the smaller municipality to influence in evaluations and the agenda setting.

    Download full text (pdf)
    fulltext
  • 22.
    Agovic, Sabina
    et al.
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Sundin, Gabrielle
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    POLITISKT DELTAGANDE -En kvantitativ studie om resurser, motivation och nätverks effekter på individers politiska deltagande i Sverige2019Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [en]

    This essay studies what affects individual’s political participation in Sweden. Specifically, it

    examines what affects resources, motivation and networks has on individual’s political

    participation and if these effects have a greater or lesser impact during election year compared

    to non- election year. The study applies the civic voluntarism model as theory. According to

    the theory, individuals who are more motivated and have a good access to resources and

    networks participate more in politics. This study relies on a quantitative method completed

    with a logistic regressions analysis and the empirical data used was obtained from SOMinstitute,

    Gothenburg University. Our research concluded that individuals with more access to

    resources, networks and high political motivation are more likely to participate in the politics

    of Sweden. Furthermore, the study revealed that effects of motivation and network has a

    stronger impact on individual’s political participation in Sweden under election year compared

    to non-election year.

    Download full text (pdf)
    fulltext
  • 23.
    Airaksinen, Jenni
    et al.
    University of Tampere, Finland.
    Åström, Joachim
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Perceptions of power in regional networks: a nordic comparative analysis2009In: Local Government Studies, ISSN 0300-3930, E-ISSN 1743-9388, Vol. 35, no 5, p. 595-614Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    The aim of this article is to explore the differentiated attitudes towards power in Nordic regional networks. The analysis draws upon a unique comparative survey targeting regional network participants in Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Three specific issues of power are studied: (1) the perceived influence of different actors in regional networks, (2) the perceived mandate of network members, and (3) the perceived impact of networks on regional development. When searching for the national political specifics that might determine participants' different attitudes, State administrative traditions and regional institutional set-ups are of particular interest. While regional governance in all countries is going through a period of transformative flux, the results show strong association with historical paths. The western countries' networks are characterised by less State influence, more influence by regional stakeholders, greater discretionary power of network members, and they are perceived to have more of an impact on regional development than their eastern counterparts. The results suggest that networks do not represent dichotomous alternatives to formal institutions of regional policy-making, but that they are linked to them in complex ways.

  • 24.
    Akbari, Morteza
    et al.
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Yildiz, Nemrud
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Tjänstemannaetik i Sverige och Danmark: En jämförande studie av statliga etikdokument2024Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [en]

    This study is a comparative study of government ethics documents in Sweden and Denmark. It explores how the role of civil servants and their relationship with politicians are described in the ethical documents of both countries. The study aims to identify and analyze the types of civil servants emerging from these documents, their loyalties, and their political and administrative autonomy. The thesis employs a qualitative content analysis method to examine the documents, considering the differences in administrative traditions and political-administrative institutions in the two Nordic countries. The study contributes to understanding the public administration and ethics within the specific contexts of Sweden and Denmark.

    Download full text (pdf)
    Tjänstemannaetik i Sverige och Danmark: En jämförande studie av statliga etikdokument
  • 25.
    Akram, Owasim
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Getting Extreme Poverty Narrated: Methodological Challenges of Interviewing Older Persons2021In: International Journal of Qualitative Methods, E-ISSN 1609-4069, Vol. 20, p. 1-11, article id 16094069211016716Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Interviewing different groups involves different challenges and opportunities. Older persons living in extreme poverty are among those who warrant special methodological considerations. Building on the experiences of life-history interviews with extreme poor older persons in Bangladesh, this article contributes with a methodological reflection on the interview process from the start to the end. The article highlights the key practical, emotional, and ethical concerns that impact the interview process. Adopting an activist approach, it asserts that offering additional power and (or) agency to poor and vulnerable participants yields more benefit to research. The article challenges the traditional consent-seeking process as it remains short of protecting the participants fully. Period of silence appears to be crucial in interviews for which a researcher should devise schemes on how to manage and analyze silence as a non-textual interview content. The paper stresses on the need to frame plans and protocols for the researchers themselves as they can be exposed to mental, physical, or social harm. It recommends reformulation of the idea of accountability toward the research participants in relation to incentivisation, dissemination and reporting back to the community. Understanding all such nuances and careful dealing of micro-ethical aspects are crucial to succeed in an interview. The article can be particularly beneficial for early-stage researchers who conduct interviews with people living in extreme poverty, as it makes them more aware and prepared to deal with the possible challenges inherent in different stages of the interview process.

    Download full text (pdf)
    Getting Extreme Poverty Narrated: Methodological Challenges of Interviewing Older Persons
  • 26.
    Akram, Owasim
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Living Longer, Living Harder: Ageing in Extreme Poverty in Bangladesh2022Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
    Abstract [en]

    The overall aim of this dissertation is to understand the lived experience of age-ing in extreme poverty in developing countries, in this case Bangladesh, a country that hosts a large number of extreme poor and ageing population. By focusing on the role of the family, the most neglected pillar of welfare, this dissertation sheds new light on the microprocesses of welfare politics. By doing so, it unravels the complexity and precariousness that characterises the lived experiences of the older persons, and the relational embeddedness of ageing in extreme poverty, which often makes bargaining, under conditions of scarce resources, an essential process.

    This dissertation seeks to make contribution at the empirical, theoretical, and methodological levels. Empirically, it explores processes of generational transfer of disadvantages that create the conditions leading to the experience of extreme poor late life. Theoretically it helps us reconceptualise extreme poverty as ‘agency poverty’ associated with ageing. By adopting a life course approach, the dissertation advances our understanding of ageing and extreme poverty being inspired by postmodern and postcolonial in-sights, thus highlighting the importance of othering and agency erosion mechanisms. The dissertation also formulates the concept of ‘relational security’, arguing that the older persons’ search for wellbeing and security primarily revolves around their relations. The level of ‘relational security’ is therefore a crucial marker of wellbeing and security during the late life. Lastly, methodologically, and relying on an activist approach, the dissertation challenges some of the conventional ways of doing research. It emphasises the need both to duly recognise the power and agency of the vulnerable research participants and to facilitate a space to exercise their power and agency. It also advocates for researchers to be more mindful about their accountability to the research participants.

    The dissertation discusses the policy implications of the findings and highlights that poverty policies and interventions should be concerned about ‘agency poverty’ and add provisions that contribute towards restoring older persons’ agency by, for example, empowering them politically. Policymakers also need to be aware that individuals’ different levels of relational embeddedness play a critical role in deter-mining the outcome of policy interventions tackling extreme poverty in old age.

    List of papers
    1. Generational Bargain, Transfer of Disadvantages and Extreme Poverty: A Qualitative Enquiry from Bangladesh
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>Generational Bargain, Transfer of Disadvantages and Extreme Poverty: A Qualitative Enquiry from Bangladesh
    2020 (English)In: European Journal of Development Research, ISSN 0957-8811, E-ISSN 1743-9728, no 32, p. 1173-1194Article in journal (Refereed) Published
    Abstract [en]

    Why do the poor stay poor? And, crucially, why are their children likely to be poor and end up poor later in life? This is a familiar question in the fields of development, social policy and economics alike. Bangladesh has seen notable successes in reducing poverty, and yet, addressing the transfer of deprivations and disadvantages within and between generations still poses a major challenge for policy-makers. To date, literature on inter-generational poverty remains dominated by large quantitative panel data. By contrast, this study draws on a unique qualitative dataset of 72 extreme poor households across Bangladesh, examining how inter- and intra-generational bargains generate extreme poverty. It is argued that, while poverty is transferred inter-generationally, it is not transferred equally. Rather, transferred disadvantages are shaped by persistent forms of deprivation, discrimination and a household-level political economy that is highly gendered. The inter-generational transfer of poverty should be seen as a dynamic and negotiated process that is crucially shaped by intra-generational bargains.

    Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
    Palgrave Macmillan, 2020
    Keywords
    Bangladesh, Disadvantages, Extreme poverty, Gender, Generational bargain
    National Category
    Political Science
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-80636 (URN)10.1057/s41287-020-00261-4 (DOI)000516790100001 ()2-s2.0-85080091787 (Scopus ID)
    Note

    Funding Agencies:

    European Union (EU) 754285

    UK aid from the UK Government  GB-1-107402

    Available from: 2020-03-13 Created: 2020-03-13 Last updated: 2022-11-24Bibliographically approved
    2. Othering and Agency Erosion of Older Adults Living in Extreme Poverty
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>Othering and Agency Erosion of Older Adults Living in Extreme Poverty
    (English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
    National Category
    Political Science (excluding Public Administration Studies and Globalisation Studies)
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-102379 (URN)
    Available from: 2022-11-24 Created: 2022-11-24 Last updated: 2022-11-24Bibliographically approved
    3. Family's Roles as a Welfare Pillar: The Case of Older Persons Living in Extreme Poverty in Bangladesh
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>Family's Roles as a Welfare Pillar: The Case of Older Persons Living in Extreme Poverty in Bangladesh
    2023 (English)In: Development Policy Review, ISSN 0950-6764, E-ISSN 1467-7679, Vol. 41, no 2, article id e12679Article in journal (Refereed) Published
    Abstract [en]

    Motivation: Many mainstream welfare theories developed by social scientists and applied by economists and policymakers underestimate families’ roles in providing welfare to citizens. This is surprising given that the family constitutes one of the main welfare pillars across typologies of the welfare state.

    Purpose: This article seeks to explore the role of the family as a welfare pillar with an ageing perspective. We aimed to test whether the family serves as a space for negotiations to improve wellbeing and achieve security in the absence of effective formal mechanisms.

    Methods and approach: Applying the framework of “informal security regimes” (Wood, 2004), this article draws on 37 life history interviews collected from older persons living in extreme poverty in Bangladesh. Recurring themes are identified and analysed to explore the relationship between family and wellbeing/security.

    Findings: We find that family relationships are often central in the pursuit of security. This shows how welfare delivery in low- and middle-income countries (L&MICs), in this case Bangladesh, is deeply rooted in reciprocal family systems where all members actively fulfil moral and material expectations. Pursuing this collective goal can take different forms relative to each member's physical and mental capacity, position, gender, and age. Building on the empirical evidence, we propose the concept of “relational security” as a crucial marker and shaper of wellbeing.

    Policy implications: To be effective, welfare policies need to better consider how the conception and experiences of wellbeing and security, especially for the older persons living in extreme poverty, are deeply embedded within the complex functioning of the relationships that can shape welfare outcomes in different directions.

    Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
    Blackwell Publishing, 2023
    Keywords
    Ageing, Bangladesh, extreme poverty, family, social policy, welfare regimes
    National Category
    Political Science
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-102378 (URN)10.1111/dpr.12679 (DOI)000913372700001 ()2-s2.0-85146463335 (Scopus ID)
    Funder
    EU, Horizon 2020, 754285
    Available from: 2022-11-24 Created: 2022-11-24 Last updated: 2023-06-22Bibliographically approved
    4. Getting Extreme Poverty Narrated: Methodological Challenges of Interviewing Older Persons
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>Getting Extreme Poverty Narrated: Methodological Challenges of Interviewing Older Persons
    2021 (English)In: International Journal of Qualitative Methods, E-ISSN 1609-4069, Vol. 20, p. 1-11, article id 16094069211016716Article in journal (Refereed) Published
    Abstract [en]

    Interviewing different groups involves different challenges and opportunities. Older persons living in extreme poverty are among those who warrant special methodological considerations. Building on the experiences of life-history interviews with extreme poor older persons in Bangladesh, this article contributes with a methodological reflection on the interview process from the start to the end. The article highlights the key practical, emotional, and ethical concerns that impact the interview process. Adopting an activist approach, it asserts that offering additional power and (or) agency to poor and vulnerable participants yields more benefit to research. The article challenges the traditional consent-seeking process as it remains short of protecting the participants fully. Period of silence appears to be crucial in interviews for which a researcher should devise schemes on how to manage and analyze silence as a non-textual interview content. The paper stresses on the need to frame plans and protocols for the researchers themselves as they can be exposed to mental, physical, or social harm. It recommends reformulation of the idea of accountability toward the research participants in relation to incentivisation, dissemination and reporting back to the community. Understanding all such nuances and careful dealing of micro-ethical aspects are crucial to succeed in an interview. The article can be particularly beneficial for early-stage researchers who conduct interviews with people living in extreme poverty, as it makes them more aware and prepared to deal with the possible challenges inherent in different stages of the interview process.

    Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
    Sage Publications, 2021
    Keywords
    qualitative research, research ethics, interviews, extreme poverty, older persons, Bangladesh
    National Category
    Political Science
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-91915 (URN)10.1177/16094069211016716 (DOI)000755745700001 ()2-s2.0-85106012964 (Scopus ID)
    Funder
    EU, Horizon 2020, 754285
    Available from: 2021-05-24 Created: 2021-05-24 Last updated: 2024-01-17Bibliographically approved
    Download full text (pdf)
    Living Longer, Living Harder: Ageing in Extreme Poverty in Bangladesh
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  • 27.
    Akram, Owasim
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Othering and Agency Erosion of Older Adults Living in Extreme PovertyManuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
  • 28.
    Akram, Owasim
    et al.
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Maitrot, M.
    Social and Policy Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom.
    Denk, Thomas
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Generational Bargain, Transfer of Disadvantages and Extreme Poverty: A Qualitative Enquiry from Bangladesh2020In: European Journal of Development Research, ISSN 0957-8811, E-ISSN 1743-9728, no 32, p. 1173-1194Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Why do the poor stay poor? And, crucially, why are their children likely to be poor and end up poor later in life? This is a familiar question in the fields of development, social policy and economics alike. Bangladesh has seen notable successes in reducing poverty, and yet, addressing the transfer of deprivations and disadvantages within and between generations still poses a major challenge for policy-makers. To date, literature on inter-generational poverty remains dominated by large quantitative panel data. By contrast, this study draws on a unique qualitative dataset of 72 extreme poor households across Bangladesh, examining how inter- and intra-generational bargains generate extreme poverty. It is argued that, while poverty is transferred inter-generationally, it is not transferred equally. Rather, transferred disadvantages are shaped by persistent forms of deprivation, discrimination and a household-level political economy that is highly gendered. The inter-generational transfer of poverty should be seen as a dynamic and negotiated process that is crucially shaped by intra-generational bargains.

    Download full text (pdf)
    Generational Bargain, Transfer of Disadvantages and Extreme Poverty: A Qualitative Enquiry from Bangladesh
  • 29.
    Akram, Owasim
    et al.
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Maîtrot, Mathilde
    Department of Social & Policy Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
    Family's Roles as a Welfare Pillar: The Case of Older Persons Living in Extreme Poverty in Bangladesh2023In: Development Policy Review, ISSN 0950-6764, E-ISSN 1467-7679, Vol. 41, no 2, article id e12679Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Motivation: Many mainstream welfare theories developed by social scientists and applied by economists and policymakers underestimate families’ roles in providing welfare to citizens. This is surprising given that the family constitutes one of the main welfare pillars across typologies of the welfare state.

    Purpose: This article seeks to explore the role of the family as a welfare pillar with an ageing perspective. We aimed to test whether the family serves as a space for negotiations to improve wellbeing and achieve security in the absence of effective formal mechanisms.

    Methods and approach: Applying the framework of “informal security regimes” (Wood, 2004), this article draws on 37 life history interviews collected from older persons living in extreme poverty in Bangladesh. Recurring themes are identified and analysed to explore the relationship between family and wellbeing/security.

    Findings: We find that family relationships are often central in the pursuit of security. This shows how welfare delivery in low- and middle-income countries (L&MICs), in this case Bangladesh, is deeply rooted in reciprocal family systems where all members actively fulfil moral and material expectations. Pursuing this collective goal can take different forms relative to each member's physical and mental capacity, position, gender, and age. Building on the empirical evidence, we propose the concept of “relational security” as a crucial marker and shaper of wellbeing.

    Policy implications: To be effective, welfare policies need to better consider how the conception and experiences of wellbeing and security, especially for the older persons living in extreme poverty, are deeply embedded within the complex functioning of the relationships that can shape welfare outcomes in different directions.

  • 30.
    Albertsson, Rebecca
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    FINNS DET ETT DILEMMA ?: En fallstudie av mellanchefer2014Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Download full text (pdf)
    fulltext
  • 31.
    Alexopoulou, Sofia
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Borrowed Access: The Grey Digital Divide Meets the Familialist Welfare Model of Greece2020In: The Journal of Aging and Social Change, ISSN 2576-5310, Vol. 10, no 1, p. 15-33Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Worldwide, there is a debate on growing aging populations and how to help them remain active and independent forlonger. Digitalized societies offer, among other things, a range of online welfare services that virtually eliminate the distanceand delays between the state machinery and citizens. Aged people can benefit greatly from these online services, completingbureaucratic processes with the click of a button and from the safety of their homes, without waiting in long queues to beserved. In some countries, such as Greece, the persistence of a grey digital divide in which older people lack internet accessimpedes this significant opportunity. Our aim is to cast light on how the digital divide and seniors are described and positionedin the Greek digital discourse, using as a theoretical framework the existing culture (values) and the country’s current welfarestateformulation (a familialist model). To better understand these matters, relevant policy documents were analyzed and nineinterviews were conducted with elite public officials from the Greek Ministry of Digital Policy, Telecommunications, andMedia. This article reached two key conclusions: 1) the digital divide in Greece is a complex matter with deep cultural roots;2) there are two distinct digital policies in Greece, i.e., the official policy targeting young people and their acquisition of moredigital skills, and the unofficial policy referring to seniors as having “borrowed access” to technology based on the support oftheir families and immediate social environment.

  • 32.
    Alexopoulou, Sofia
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    "Please Mind the Grey Digital Divide": An Analysis of Digital Public Policies in Light of the Welfare State (Sweden and Greece)2022Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
    Abstract [en]

    This thesis examines the grey digital divide and digital policies in the divergent welfare regimes of Sweden and Greece. The grey digital divide is a serious problem not only for the individual but also for society. The grey digital divide signifies the inability of older people to utilize digital technology. In academic circles, the emphasis is mostly on the technological aspects of the grey digital divide or on the individual characteristics of older people as (non)users of digital tools. However, the problem is more complex in nature and is interconnected with the aging process and experience. 

    The grey digital divide has multiple levels: the first concerns access, the second skills, and the third opportunities. This thesis concentrates mostly on the third level of digital divide because it touches on the welfare denominator. This particular level describes the encounters that older citizens need to have with the digital welfare state and the obstacles that they might face in doing this. Older digital “offliners” cannot take advantage of the welfare services that they need for their own well-being and cannot participate as equal citizens in digital space, which is expanding on a daily basis with new digital services.

    This thesis is situated in the discipline of political science and draws on various disciplines, such as political science (welfare regime theory, neo-institutionalism, and path-dependency), public policy (active aging paradigm), gerontology (disengagement), sociology (exclusion via the digital-by-default approach), and ICT studies (the phenomenon of digitalization and the third-level of the digital divide). The thesis is a compilation of papers and consists of two qualitative case studies, a comparative study, and a scoping literature review. The key findings are as follows: 1) older people are a heterogeneous group and this applies in the digital world as well, with the appearance of heterogeneous digital profiles; 2) the welfare regime seems to affect the manifestation of the grey digital divide and there is a path-dependency pattern in this; 3) the more digitalized a society, the greater the chance that older people not using technology will be excluded from the digital and social spheres; and 4) digital policies indicate the priorities of every society and how older people are perceived as a social group.

    List of papers
    1. The portrait of older people as (non) users of digital technologies: A scoping literature review and a typology of digital older (non) users
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>The portrait of older people as (non) users of digital technologies: A scoping literature review and a typology of digital older (non) users
    2020 (English)In: Gerontechnology, ISSN 1569-1101, E-ISSN 1569-111X, Vol. 19, no 3, p. 1-15Article, review/survey (Refereed) Published
    Abstract [en]

    Background: The images of older people while using (or not) technology is a theme that plays a crucial role not only in the implementation of policies, but also in the design of e-services or more broadly e-governance. Older people is a complex and a non-homogenous group that requires public (welfare) services which in many cases have been moved to a digital interface. The real challenge is to provide these services without excluding anyone.

    Objective: This paper aims to investigate how older people are represented as (non)users of technology in the digital literature and public discourse and to produce a typology of older digital users based on the work of Schneider and Ingram (1993). Method: The study followed established methods for a scoping literature review to discover the profile of older digital (non) users and their relationship with technology. Results: Based on this literature review, two positive profiles of different power were found: the silver surfers or “athletes” who are proficient digital users and the “older people with borrowed access” to digital technologies who are less powerful and independent while using technology. On the other hand, we also found some negative images of older adults: the “laidback” who are reluctant to use digital technologies but they have the necessary intellectual capacity to acquire IT skills on their own (strong in terms of power). The biggest group entails older people as technophobic, non-users, want-nots, digitally backward/internet laggards, digital immigrants, needy and those who are unaware of their digital condition.

    Conclusion: This research could offer a substantial contribution to policy-makers and public servants to provide better and friendlier online services, digital tools and applications in conjunction with the supply of IT courses for older individuals.

    Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
    International Society for Gerontechnology, 2020
    Keywords
    Grey digital divide, older people, ICTs, internet, public policy
    National Category
    Humanities and the Arts Information Systems
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-87075 (URN)10.4017/gt.2020.19.003.11 (DOI)
    Available from: 2020-11-02 Created: 2020-11-02 Last updated: 2022-12-27Bibliographically approved
    2. The grey digital divide and welfare state regimes: a comparative study of European countries
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>The grey digital divide and welfare state regimes: a comparative study of European countries
    2022 (English)In: Information Technology and People, ISSN 0959-3845, E-ISSN 1758-5813, Vol. 35, no 8, p. 273-291Article in journal (Refereed) Published
    Abstract [en]

    Purpose: Technology access, digital skills, and digital services are increasingly prerequisites for public life and accessing public services. The digital divide in contemporary societies matters for efforts to digitalize the welfare state. Research has already mapped individual determinants of digital exclusion and the existence of an age-related digital divide. However, far less attention has been paid to variations in digital inclusion between countries and to their potential explanations related to political systems. This study explores the influence of variations in welfare regimes on the digital divide among seniors (aged 65+) in Europe.

    Design/methodology/approach: This article presents time-series cross-sectional analyses of the relationship between welfare state regimes and digital inclusion among seniors in European countries. The analyses are based on data from Eurostat, the World Bank, and the UN E-Government Survey.

    Findings: The authors find extensive variation in the digital inclusion of citizens between welfare regimes and argue that considering regime differences improves the understanding of these variations. The findings indicate that the age-related digital divide seems to be least evident in countries with more universalistic welfare regimes and most evident in countries where seniors rely more on their families.

    Originality/value: This is the first comparative study of the association between welfare state regimes and digital inclusion among seniors.

    Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
    Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2022
    Keywords
    Digital divide, Digital inclusion, Seniors, Welfare regimes
    National Category
    Political Science
    Research subject
    Political Science
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-100215 (URN)10.1108/ITP-11-2020-0803 (DOI)000828217000001 ()2-s2.0-85134625977 (Scopus ID)
    Available from: 2022-07-24 Created: 2022-07-24 Last updated: 2022-12-27Bibliographically approved
    3. How the Responsibility of Digital Support for Older People is Allocated? The Swedish Welfare System at the Crossroads
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>How the Responsibility of Digital Support for Older People is Allocated? The Swedish Welfare System at the Crossroads
    2022 (English)In: Research on Ageing and Social Policy, ISSN 2014-6728, Vol. 10, no 1, p. 48-76Article in journal (Refereed) Published
    Abstract [en]

    A great welfare challenge today is to promote opportunities for greater digitalization, while limiting social inequalities from digital divides, especially for older people. While the digital divide is a dynamic problem, shifting from physical access to skills and usage, public policies to close the divide do not necessarily follow. This study explores who is providing digital support in Sweden by looking at three institutions: (1) the municipal eldercare system, (2) popular education institutions, and (3) the family. The results show that the Swedish policy relies heavily on popular education and family arrangements, leaving many young-old Swedes in need of digital support without public support, while the opposite occurs for very old Swedes who are mostly consumers of welfare technologies. Issues of dependency or the other way around arise. Given this, the role of the Swedish welfare state, which sets the tone of the Swedish welfare regime,needs to be re-evaluated, especially in light of the demographic challenge (a growing number of older people).

    Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
    Hipatia Press, 2022
    Keywords
    ageing, digital divide, digital inclusion, welfare regime
    National Category
    Political Science
    Research subject
    Political Science
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-96887 (URN)10.17583/rasp.8883 (DOI)000752470100002 ()
    Available from: 2022-01-31 Created: 2022-01-31 Last updated: 2022-12-27Bibliographically approved
    4. Borrowed Access: The Grey Digital Divide Meets the Familialist Welfare Model of Greece
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>Borrowed Access: The Grey Digital Divide Meets the Familialist Welfare Model of Greece
    2020 (English)In: The Journal of Aging and Social Change, ISSN 2576-5310, Vol. 10, no 1, p. 15-33Article in journal (Refereed) Published
    Abstract [en]

    Worldwide, there is a debate on growing aging populations and how to help them remain active and independent forlonger. Digitalized societies offer, among other things, a range of online welfare services that virtually eliminate the distanceand delays between the state machinery and citizens. Aged people can benefit greatly from these online services, completingbureaucratic processes with the click of a button and from the safety of their homes, without waiting in long queues to beserved. In some countries, such as Greece, the persistence of a grey digital divide in which older people lack internet accessimpedes this significant opportunity. Our aim is to cast light on how the digital divide and seniors are described and positionedin the Greek digital discourse, using as a theoretical framework the existing culture (values) and the country’s current welfarestateformulation (a familialist model). To better understand these matters, relevant policy documents were analyzed and nineinterviews were conducted with elite public officials from the Greek Ministry of Digital Policy, Telecommunications, andMedia. This article reached two key conclusions: 1) the digital divide in Greece is a complex matter with deep cultural roots;2) there are two distinct digital policies in Greece, i.e., the official policy targeting young people and their acquisition of moredigital skills, and the unofficial policy referring to seniors as having “borrowed access” to technology based on the support oftheir families and immediate social environment.

    Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
    Common Ground Research Networks, 2020
    Keywords
    Familialist Welfare State, Seniors, Digital Divide, Digital Technologies, Social Exclusion
    National Category
    Political Science
    Research subject
    Political Science
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-81437 (URN)10.18848/2576-5310/CGP/v10i01/15-33 (DOI)
    Available from: 2020-05-01 Created: 2020-05-01 Last updated: 2022-12-27Bibliographically approved
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  • 33.
    Alexopoulou, Sofia
    et al.
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Pavli, Antonia
    National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
    Responsible Citizens against an Irresponsible State: The Case of Greece amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic2021In: HAPSc Policy Briefs Series, ISSN 2732-6578, Vol. 2, no 1, p. 9-16Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    How is it possible for citizens to act responsibly if they live in an irresponsible state? This is the key question that this paper revolves around in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Greece. Individual responsibility is the dominant ‘mantra’ of post-modernity and is widely spread by the neoliberal dogma. The individual has to take care of him/herself in any possible way to avoid risks without depending so much on the benevolent state, which, in the developed world, takes the form of a welfare state. Thus, a new type of citizen appears, the “responsible citizen”. The oxymoron, however, in the Greek case is that the state and particularly the political elites maintain bad practices of the past without being able to overcome the country’s path-dependency structures by acting responsibly. The concept of “empathy” is undoubtedly the missing link in this intriguing puzzle of good governance. Will the Greek political elites be able to recognize and embrace empathy in practice?

  • 34.
    Alexopoulou, Sofia
    et al.
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Åström, Joachim
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    How the Responsibility of Digital Support for Older People is Allocated? The Swedish Welfare System at the Crossroads2022In: Research on Ageing and Social Policy, ISSN 2014-6728, Vol. 10, no 1, p. 48-76Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    A great welfare challenge today is to promote opportunities for greater digitalization, while limiting social inequalities from digital divides, especially for older people. While the digital divide is a dynamic problem, shifting from physical access to skills and usage, public policies to close the divide do not necessarily follow. This study explores who is providing digital support in Sweden by looking at three institutions: (1) the municipal eldercare system, (2) popular education institutions, and (3) the family. The results show that the Swedish policy relies heavily on popular education and family arrangements, leaving many young-old Swedes in need of digital support without public support, while the opposite occurs for very old Swedes who are mostly consumers of welfare technologies. Issues of dependency or the other way around arise. Given this, the role of the Swedish welfare state, which sets the tone of the Swedish welfare regime,needs to be re-evaluated, especially in light of the demographic challenge (a growing number of older people).

    Download full text (pdf)
    How the Responsibility of Digital Support for Older People is Allocated? The Swedish Welfare System at the Crossroads
  • 35.
    Alexopoulou, Sofia
    et al.
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Åström, Joachim
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Karlsson, Martin
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    The grey digital divide and welfare state regimes: a comparative study of European countries2022In: Information Technology and People, ISSN 0959-3845, E-ISSN 1758-5813, Vol. 35, no 8, p. 273-291Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Purpose: Technology access, digital skills, and digital services are increasingly prerequisites for public life and accessing public services. The digital divide in contemporary societies matters for efforts to digitalize the welfare state. Research has already mapped individual determinants of digital exclusion and the existence of an age-related digital divide. However, far less attention has been paid to variations in digital inclusion between countries and to their potential explanations related to political systems. This study explores the influence of variations in welfare regimes on the digital divide among seniors (aged 65+) in Europe.

    Design/methodology/approach: This article presents time-series cross-sectional analyses of the relationship between welfare state regimes and digital inclusion among seniors in European countries. The analyses are based on data from Eurostat, the World Bank, and the UN E-Government Survey.

    Findings: The authors find extensive variation in the digital inclusion of citizens between welfare regimes and argue that considering regime differences improves the understanding of these variations. The findings indicate that the age-related digital divide seems to be least evident in countries with more universalistic welfare regimes and most evident in countries where seniors rely more on their families.

    Originality/value: This is the first comparative study of the association between welfare state regimes and digital inclusion among seniors.

    Download full text (pdf)
    The grey digital divide and welfare state regimes: a comparative study of European countries
  • 36.
    Allard, Markus
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Doroteaupproret: - En fallstudie i det svenska folkinitiativet2016Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [en]

    This essay focus on the use of the democratic innovation known as the People Initiative, implemented in the case known as the Dorotea uprising. The purpose of this essay is to answer questions regarding the difference between the People Initiative as described in its legal form compared to its actual manifestation in the examined case of Dorotea. The essay also focus on the role of the leading politicians involved in the case, examining their attitude towards the process of the Dorotea uprising and towards democracy in general. The method used for this case study is policy tracing consisting of primarily two kinds of sources deriving from 1) a textual analyses of documents and articles and 2) the use of elite interviewing.The study concludes that the very same politicians who are responsible for the implementation of the democratic innovation are trying to use it for their own partizan agenda. For the ruling politicians this means that they are trying to hinder the implementation of the People Initiative by inventing new rules. A part of the explanation to why the politicians act like that is due to their understanding of the political system as an arena for partizan politics wherein the democratic innovation is seen as another rival actor rather than what it is meant to be. The implications of the politicians actions are increased voter alienation towards the ruling elites combined with the surge of new political parties operating in synergy with the democratic innovation.

  • 37. Allodi, Mara
    et al.
    Almgren, Ellen
    Amnå, Erik
    Örebro University, Department of Social and Political Sciences.
    Ekman, Tiina
    Eriksson, Cecilia [ Arensmeier ]
    Örebro University, Department of Social and Political Sciences.
    Johansson, Susanna
    Theodorsson, Niklas
    Munck, Ingrid
    Zetterberg, Pär
    Ungas demokratiskolor i internationell belysning2007In: Resultatdialog 2007: forskning inom utbildningsvetenskap, Stockholm: Vetenskapsrådet , 2007, p. 7-13Chapter in book (Other academic)
  • 38.
    Almeen, Oscar
    et al.
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Karlsson, Daniella
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Verkligheten och Idealet -En komparativ analys av demokratiska staters förhållande till statsskickets idealtyper2019Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [en]

    The system of government in modern democratic states can be categorized as presidential, semi-presidential or parliamentary depending on its relationship between the legislative, executive and judicial branches. This relationship is known as the separation of powers and is often regulated by a written constitution. While there are many studies explaining the ideal system, there are few researches made as to whether the states correspond with their theoretical ideals. This study aims at explaining the theories of Giovanni Sartori regarding these three different systems of government and thus creating an ideal for each system. With the help of case studies of three different states representing each system the study analyses as to whether the states of each system correspond with its ideals. The states chosen for this purpose is Australia as a representative of the parlamentaristic state, France as a semi-presidential system and USA which is a presidential system. All three of them are using a bicameral legislature and have a written constitution. The study aims to analyse the systems through a comparative method using a qualitative text analysis of the material used.

    The results of this study shows that while the states at large resembles its ideal, there are some deviations. Australia and the United States of America fulfills Sartoris three criterias for their respective system, while France deviates from a majority of its ideal criterias as a hybrid semi-presidential system.

    Download full text (pdf)
    fulltext
  • 39.
    Alnaji, Zezo
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    RÄTTVISA BORTOM GRÄNSERSJÄLVRESPEKT SOM KOSMOPOLITISK PLIKT: Om global distributiv rättvisa: ett normativt rättfärdigande2024Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [en]

    This essay focus on the normative debate between cosmopolitanism and statism in the context of global distributive justice. The notion of basic structure and negative rights examines separately in two questions to understand distributive justice as a global subject rather than only national. Statists as Rawls holds the position that global distributive justice prerequisite a basic structure with coercive instrument. Pogge as cosmopolitan arguments for the existence of global basic structure, by addressing inequalities in real-world politics, in the form of negative rights violation. The aim of this study is to justify global distributive justice on cosmopolitan duties, based on normative political theory, reflective equilibrium, and conceptual analysis. The main issue is formulated into two questions in the following: • Does reciprocity constitute a global basic structure that presupposes resource distribution? • Can self-respect as foundation of rights justify global distributive justice? I do this first by analyzing the concept of basic structure, based on the notion reciprocity. This is to identify the basic structure of the global system that prerequisite global distributive justice. Second, I analyze Pogge’s formulation of negative rights as cosmopolitan rights, to modify them to a positive concept of rights. This is in purpose to avoid the libertarian counterargument presented by Narveson, that negative rights fail as a ground of cosmopolitan duties. I show first that coercion is not a necessary condition, but only sufficient for the basic structure. Thus, the global basic structure exists and prerequisite distributive justice, based on reciprocity. Unlike the national basic structure of coercive instrument, the global basic structure grounds on several global threats and challenges that tie all nations as alternative concept of coercion. Second, I show that cosmopolitan duties can be grounded on positive rights. I do this through the notion of self-respect and deontological ethics, which success to avoid the libertarian critique of cosmopolitan duties.

    Download full text (pdf)
    RÄTTVISA BORTOM GRÄNSERSJÄLVRESPEKT SOM KOSMOPOLITISK PLIKT: Om global distributiv rättvisa: ett normativt rättfärdigande
  • 40.
    Alqabbani, Tudja
    et al.
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Elfares, Lara
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Etableringen av nyanlända kvinnor på arbetsmarknaden -En innehållsanalys av Regeringens insatser iform av åtgärder och beslut2020Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [en]

    The main purpose with the essay is to highlight the difficulties and challenges that newly arrived women experience in the labor market. Furthermore, the essay aims to analyze theefforts that the Swedish Government is making for the establishment of newly arrived women in the labor market and what support is offered for these women. The essay will be referring to following three questions;

    1. What obstacles and challenges do newly arrived women face in the establishment process?- What are the underlying factors to them according to the theory of gender systems and feminist institutionalism?

    2. What initiatives in the forms of measures and decisions are proposed by theGovernment for the establishment of newly arrived women in the labor market?The content was studied through policy documents, official reports, and statistics. With the help of the questions, the content was investigated in which efforts are being made in the labor market for newly arrived women seen from a feminist perspective in the documents.The material was read and analyzed based on a qualitative analysis using a content analysis. The results of the study were analyzed through two theories, that is embedded in two feminist perspectives which are Institutional feminism and the gender system.Parental leave is described as the primary reason for refugee women’s absence from labor, followed by health issues, lack of education and discrimination. The presented results indicate that the establishment of newly arrived women in the labor market is not only important for their own integration and autonomy, but it also plays a significant role in the development of society and for immigrant children's education and integration. Furthermore, the study shows that the Government's efforts are deficient and unsatisfactory in relation to the establishment of newly arrived women in the labor market. The analyzed results of the study show that there is a lack of research on the subject and further efforts are requested.

    Download full text (pdf)
    fulltext
  • 41.
    Alvstrand, Marcus
    et al.
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Blom, Andreas
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    DET DELADE SAMHÄLLET: En studie av allmännyttans roll i arbetet med segregationsproblematiken2016Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [en]

    Sweden meets today one of the largest refugee flows in modern times and there are strong doubts that the communities are able to integrate the large amount of refugees entering the country. This creates a risk of segregation increasing further as a problem for the society as a whole. Housing companies, owned by the municipalities, have been considered appropriate to handle the situation. This is based on the idea that the monitoring and controlling municipalities can exercise power over them and thus could be used to ensure that houses for every citizen are built.

    The purpose of this study is to highlight the role of the municipal housing company ÖBO and how it is provided in the communal segregation policy. The study will also include examining the approach to segregation which ÖBO's role and work expresses. Based on this, we intend to contribute to a better understanding of how the segregation is addressed and constructed as a social problem. To answer the purpose of the study we will study Örebro as a most likely case to solve the segregation problem. The study will use interviews with selected politicians and officials, alongside with document analysis of relevant policy documents and action plans to identify the work to lower the segregation in Örebro and how ÖBO participates in it.

    Results from the study tells us that ÖBO plays a key role in the efforts to fix and prevent the segregation problem. The main causes of the segregation problem seem to be unemployment and the lack of mix of different housing in the districts. ÖBO is an important contributor to soften the causes and effects of the segregation dilemma through its participation in designing and remodel new and old districts and in the work to lower the unemployment rate in districts where the unemployment is high.

  • 42.
    Amin, Miriam
    Örebro University, Department of Social and Political Sciences.
    The Democratisation Process of the Kurdistan Province in federal Iraq: A case study of democratisation2008Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (One Year)), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
  • 43.
    Amnå, Erik
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Active, passive and standby citizens2012Report (Other (popular science, discussion, etc.))
  • 44.
    Amnå, Erik
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Active, passive, or stand-by citizens?: Latent and manifest political participation2010In: New forms of citizen participation: Normative implications / [ed] Erik Amnå, Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG , 2010, p. 191-203Chapter in book (Other academic)
  • 45.
    Amnå, Erik
    Örebro University, Department of Social and Political Sciences.
    Associational life, youth, and political capital formation in Sweden: historical legacies and contemporary trends2007In: State and civil society in Northern Europe: the Swedish model reconsidered / [ed] Lars Trägårdh, New York: Berghahn books , 2007, p. 165-204Chapter in book (Other academic)
  • 46.
    Amnå, Erik
    Örebro University, Department of Social and Political Sciences.
    Autonomous arenas of pluralism or contracted coordinators of governance?: Responses to Lorentzen's & Wijkström's commentaries on my article "Still a trustworthy ally? Civil society and the transformation of Scandinavian democracy"2006In: Journal of Civil Society, ISSN 1744-8689, E-ISSN 1744-8697, Vol. 2, no 3, p. 267-270Article in journal (Refereed)
  • 47.
    Amnå, Erik
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    Bildningsäventyr i osäkerhetens tid2022In: Demokratin som bildningsväg / [ed] Kenneth Abrahamsson; Per-Ola Jansson; Torvald Åkesson, Stockholm: Carlsson Bokförlag, 2022, p. 363-370Chapter in book (Other (popular science, discussion, etc.))
  • 48.
    Amnå, Erik
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    CATCH-EyoU: Meanings and Practices of Youth Participation and Cases of Successful Participation: Documentary Evidence of Activities National Analysis: Sweden WP82018Data set
    Download full text (xlsx)
    dataset
  • 49.
    Amnå, Erik
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    CATCH-EyoU: Meanings and Practices of Youth Participation and Cases of Successful Participation: Ethnography Cases Analysis: Sweden WP82018Data set
    Download full text (pdf)
    dataset
  • 50.
    Amnå, Erik
    Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
    CATCH-EyoU: Modelling and testing the processes of construction of youth active EU citizenship: a social innovation intervention: Focus Groups: Sweden WP92018Data set
    Download full text (pdf)
    dataset
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