”We are Straining Mosquitos and Swallowing Camels” - Human Rights Work in a Municipality Context

Abstract

In this thesis I make a discourse analysis of the Human Rights discourse, and other prevalent discourses in a municipality context, with a special focus on the municipality of Gothenburg. I map where the concept Human Rights is located in my material, that consists of different official documents and meetings with two representatives from the SDF Östra Göteborg, and examine how the Human Rights discourse functions as an orientating discourse in this context. I examine how the municipality is effected by a normalized racist discourse, and here I also draw on examples from national politics. In my thesis, I find that the Human Rights discourse is sprawling. This results in the discourse not functioning as a discourse that creates orientation in the municipality work. I find that the current depoliticizing trend is prevalent in the municipality, and argue that this risks obscuring inequalities that have material effects on people’s lives. I also find a prevalent neoliberal discourse in my material. I argue that even though a Human Rights discourse, as well as a Gender Equality discourse, are not put into practice, on a national level, they are still discourses that are used in order to create a difference between a national We and an uncivilized They.