SVENSKHET I FÖRÄNDRING - en kulturvetenskaplig analys av debatten om gettopaketet i svensk press

Abstract

This thesis examines how swedish national identity is constructed in the media debate in Swedish press regarding a danish economical and political plan called ”ghettopakke” that was adopted in Denmark in 2018. In addition this thesis aims to analyse how these constructions relates to power, how the ”ghettopakke” is defined in the articles and how the debate has changed over time. The method used is discourse analysis and the material is based on different types of published texts in foremost daily- and evening papers in Sweden in 2010 and 2018. At the time two different ”ghettopakke” was introduced to the public. The theoretical framework consists of Bridget Anderssons perspective on nations as communities of value, Chantal Mouffes discussions about radical democracy and the political and Michael Billigs thoughts on Banal Nationalism. The study concludes that swedish national identity and the myth of Sweden are renegotiated in a drastic manner under this period of time due to a revaluation of ”Denmark”. This revaluation can be linked to a dominant discourse identified in the material which idealizes the power of action and is thought of as a typical ”danish” practice. The power of action is associated with toughness, determination, courage and honesty and the ”good” action is thought of as concrete, distinct and simple. In addition, these actions are constructed as the opposite to what’s thought of as typical ”swedish” practices coupled together with starting ”social councils”, discussions and ”free thinking”. It is contended that this dichotomy is problematic due to it’s devaluation of more soft values, complex and multifaceted ways of dealing with contemporary challenges and it brings essential democratic principles and values into question.