This thesis was conducted since the Covid-19 pandemic has meant that work, as well as workplace meetings, has become virtual. The purpose of the study was to research individual experiences of power relations between actors within virtual, video-mediated meetings in regard to the effect technology, body and place have on these power relations. The Data was collected by conducting ten semi-structured interviews through Teams and Zoom. The result was analyzed within the framework of power through persuasion, authority, and coercion (Turner, 2005), and also by including the concepts of social power and dominance (Linell & Luckmann, 1991). Further, the result was put in a broader academic context by relating it to previous research. The result showed that technology has had an effect on the relations of power by creating new areas of responsibility, by increasing control over oneself and others within meetings, but also by giving people a greater sense of freedom surrounding them. In the second part of the result, it was reported that absence of body during virtual meetings has meant difficulties in being able to give feedback through one’s body language, and that it, in addition, has led to new conditions when it comes to who gets to speak. Third, the result showed that the transition of the workplace from being an office to it becoming a virtual space, in theory, could mean increased access to meetings, but that the person in charge of the meeting has a decisive role in realizing that opportunity. Finally, it appeared as if friction has arisen between norms within the office and norms of the home, and that people within a place of authority has been able to exercise excessive control by demanding that coworkers have their cameras on at all times. The paper ended by giving suggestions on further research.

Denna studie undersöker hur demokratisk organisering i det svenska civilsamhället har påverkats av den hastiga digitaliseringen i samband med covid-19. Studien är av induktiv karaktär och syftar till att studera förutsättningarna för demokratiskt deltagande under digitala årsmöten i ideella föreningar. Den empiri som ligger till grund för undersökningen är kvalitativa intervjuer samt en kvantitativ enkätstudie. Urvalsgrupperna är personer som har suttit som mötesordförande under både digitala och fysiska årsmöten samt förtroendevalda och anställda som har arrangerat eller deltagit vid årsmöten under covid-19. Studien visar att det finns ett samband mellan demokratiska förutsättningar under digitala årsmöten och den digitala kompetensen inom organisationen. Vidare att förberedelser och organisationskultur är viktigare för de demokratiska förutsättningarna än om årsmötet arrangeras via fysiska eller digitala kanaler. Resultatet visar att lärdomar från digitaliseringen av årsmöten under covid-19 kan leda till ökade förutsättningar för deltagande och jämlikt inflytande. Empirin pekar på en framtida utveckling där majoriteten av organisationerna i studien kommer återgå till fysiska årsmöten eller hybridmöten. Hybridmöten, där vissa medlemmar deltar fysiskt och andra digitalt, rekommenderas inte då de kan skapa problem gällande jämlikt deltagande och inflytande under årsmötet. / This study examines how democratic organization of operations within Swedish non-profit organizations (NPO) has been affected because of rapid digitalization following covid-19. The study is inductive in nature and aims to study the prerequisites regarding democratic participation during annual meetings. The empirical data that creates the foundation for this research is based on qualitative interviews and a quantitative survey. The selection group studied comprises persons that have acted as chairman during both digital and physical annual meetings, as well as board members and employees within NPO's that have arranged or participated in annual meetings during covid-19. The study shows that there is a correlation between democratic prerequisites during digital annual meetings and the digital competence within the organization. Furthermore, preparations are shown to be more important regarding the democratic prerequisites than whether the annual meeting is conducted via physical or digital platforms. The results indicate that knowledge gained from the digitization of annual meetings during covid-19 could lead to better possibilities regarding participation and equal influence. Empirical data points out a possible future development where the organizations participating in the study will revert to using physical and hybrid meetings when conducting annual meetings. Hybrid meetings, where some participate physically and others digitally, are not to be recommended due to problems regarding equal participation and influence during the annual meeting.