Northern Sweden shows a unique population structure with remarkable geographical variations in the distribution of genetic disorders as well as genetic markers like blood groups, serum groups and red cell enzyme types. The present-day population of northern Sweden is a mixture of people of Finnish, Saamish (Lappish) and Central-Swedish origin. In this thesis the ethnic heterogeneity of the North-Swedish population (counties of Västerbotten and Norrbotten) was studied using genetic blood markers, and the epidemiological impact of the ethnic heterogeneity was exemplified by studying the geographical correlation between Finnish admixture and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. The following results were found: 1 Two new ethnic marker genes were discovered: the GC*1F allele (GC serum groups) for Saamish influence and the TF*C3 allele (transferrin serum groups) for Finnish influence. 2 Regional gene frequency variations in the A1A2B0 blood groups, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD) types and transferrin and GC serum groups were studied in a sample of 4100-5600 individuals from northern Sweden distributed according to birth place into 23 subpopulations. A significant regional heterogeneity was found in all systems. The ethnic marker genes (AB0*A2, GC*1F, TF*C3, PGD*C) showed clineal variations consistent with the expected patterns of Finnish and Saamish admixture. 3 Finnish and Saamish admixture was estimated in the 23 subpopulations using AB0*A2, GC*1F and PGD*C as Saamish markers and TF*C3, TF*DCHI, TF*B0-1 and SODI*2 as Finnish markers. The Saamish admixture varied between 0 and 34% and was strongest in the northern and northwestern parts of northern Sweden. The Finnish influence varied between 0 and 84% and was strongest in the northern and northeastern parts of the area. The ethnic marker genes showed significant geographical intercorrelations. 4 Hypercholesterolemia showed a significant heterogeneity between the 23 subpopulations, and there was a significant geographical covariation with the degree of Finnish admixture. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that Finnish genetic influence may contribute to the development of hypercholesterolemia and thereby to the increased rate of cardiovascular diseases found in northern Sweden. The results of this study suggest that in addition to the founder effect ethnic heterogeneity is an important determinant of the structure of the North-Swedish population. / <p>Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 1992, härtill 7 uppsatser.</p> / digitalisering@umu.se

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Nach dem Zusammenbruch der Sowjetunion stellte der Aufbau eines unabhängigen Staates und einer unabhängigen Nation eine große Herausforderung für die Regierenden der fünfzehn ehemaligen Sowjetrepubliken dar Zwanzig Jahre später, pendelt der Typus, der aus jenen Prozessen hervorgegangenen politischen Regime, zwischen Demokratie und Autokratie. Diese Dissertation konzentriert sich auf die Grauzone zwischen diesen beiden Idealtypen, d.h. auf ‚hybride Regime‘, verstanden als Staaten, die nachweislich freie und faire Wahlen einerseits mit einem autokratischen Regierungsstil andererseits kombinieren. Unter den ehemaligen Sowjetrepubliken sind dies Georgien, Moldawien und die Ukraine. Die zentrale Frage der Arbeit lautet, welche Faktoren die Funktionstüchtigkeit dieser Regime gewährleistet. Es zeigt sich, dass die drei genannten Länder ethnisch stark heterogen sind relative arme Volkswirtschaften mit sehr schwachem Wachstum sind. Es wird argumentiert, dass es diese beiden Strukturmerkmale sind, die das Handeln der heimischen Eliten wesentlich determinieren und die, zusammen mit den durch internationale Geldgeber gesetzten Anreizen, die Dauerhaftigkeit dieser hybriden Regime bedingen. Dagegen steht die politische Polarisierung im Kern des Erklärungsmodells dieser Dissertation. Im Detail sieht das Erklärungsmodell vor, dass sie diesen Einfluss vermittelt durch das Moment der politischen Polarisierung ausüben. Ethnische Spaltungen spiegeln sich in polarisierten politischen Gruppierungen wieder und sind dadurch für einen hochgradig kompetitiven Charakter von Wahlen verantwortlich. Die heimischen Eliten betonen ethnische Antagonismen in ihren Wahlkämpfen und auch die internationalen Geldgeber schüren eine bereits latent konfliktreiche Atmosphäre. Dieses Verhaltensschema sichert den Fortbestand der hybriden Regime in Moldawien und der Ukraine. Die Abwesenheit von Polarisierung, die auf einer leicht entflammbaren Fragen basiert, resultiert in einem Mangel an Kompetitivität. / In the aftermath of the breakdown of the Soviet Union, the leadership in the fifteen former republics found themselves challenged by complex processes of independent state- and nation-building. Twenty years later, the political regimes that emerged vary from democracies to autocracies. This dissertation focuses on the grey zone in between the pure types. Conceptualizing hybrid regimes as the ones that combine holding of free and fair, recognized elections, and autocratic governance, it asks the question of what keeps the former viable. This research singles out Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine as the countries with hybrid regimes. It shows that the three are highly ethnically heterogeneous and have relatively poor, very low-growing economies. This dissertation argues that these structural conditions are responsible for the actions of the domestic elites, which together with the incentives that the international donors provide the domestic elites with make hybrid regimes permanent. The political polarization is at the core of the explanatory account this dissertation presents. Ethnic divisions, reflected in political polarization are responsible for emergence of regimes with competitive elections. The elites emphasize the divisive issues in their campaigning, while the donors support the already thriving competitive environment. This keeps competitive hybrid regimes in Moldova and Ukraine viable. Absence of polarization based on easily inflammable issues results in the lack of competitiveness. However, an absence of divisiveness produces orientation on one vector of donors (the West). The stimulation of reform and praise for achievement in governance that the donors provide keep the non-competitive hybrid regime in Georgia afloat.