The purpose of this paper is to investigate, analyse and interpret the educational ideals of the ABF (Workers Educational Association) as they are understood by five members within ABF. The paper also examines how the educational ideals are represented in the national guidelines and statues of the ABF. The basic theoretical perspectives are intercultural theory and theories about Bildung and adult liberal education in a multi-cultural pedagogical environment presented by Bernt Gustavsson and Hans Lorentz respectively. The empirical study consists of five semi-structured interviews and a text study of the official documents of the ABF. The data is interpreted with hermeneutic and semiotic tools. Organisational theory focusing on organizational culture has also contributed to the study. The result of the study, when analysed in accordance to the methods, shows mainly four things. Firstly, the educational ideals within the contemporary ABF are the self-educational ideal and the civic educational ideal. Secondly, the analysis of contemporary society identifies social class as the main category of injustice with sex/gender ethnicity, disability, sexuality and age as subcategories. Thirdly, there is a lack of influence for people with a foreign background in the ABF. Fourthly, the ABF can make another world possible if the organisation consciously recruits people with a foreign background, is culturally aware when applying concepts, makes sure that the education emanates from every single participant, fights against stereotypes and builds networks. One of the main conclusions I draw from this study is that popular education within the ABF can promote learning of Intercultural competence but there is an uncertainty about where the organisation will go towards a universalistic or a particularistic direction. There is also a lack of discrepancy between the written policy and the actual practice.

Syftet med rapporten var att beskriva varför idrottsföreningar inte internutbildar sina ledare. Vidare syftade rapporten till att analysera vilka faktorer i det befintliga samarbetet mellan idrottsföreningarna och SISU idrottsutbildarna som gjorde att samarbetet fortsatte samt att analysera vilka avgörande faktorer som gjorde att idrottsföreningarna avstod från ett samarbete med dem. I resultatet visade det sig att några av föreningarna inte hade tillräcklig kunskap om vad SISU idrottsutbildarnas arbete gick ut på, andra faktorer såsom avstånd till utbildningar, ovilja från ledarnas sida, glömska och ett bristande engagemang från SISU idrottsutbildarnas sida, var avgörande då föreningarna avstod från ett samarbete med dem. De som har eller har haft ett samarbete med organisationen tycker att den personliga kontakten är viktig för att samarbetet skall fortsätta. Fördelarna med samarbetet har varit de resurspengar som klubben tillgår via lärcirklarna. Vidare är den vetenskapliga kunskap som ledare och adepter kan tillgå i form av kurser, föreläsningar, lärcirklar, böcker och andra arrangemang inom SISU idrottsutbildarna oerhört uppskattad. / Lade upp denna uppsatsen en ganska lång tid efter opponeringen så jag kommer inte ihåg vilket datum och kunde inte hitta det nu heller.

Nyckelkurs på folkhögskola för personer med långvarig smärta startade som ett samarbetsprojekt mellan Landstinget i Kalmar län och folkhögskolorna i länet. Denna studie undersöker kursens betydelse för deltagarnas liv med frågor om vad det betytt att smärtkursen förlagts till just folkhögskola. Tio personer har svarat på frågor om sitt liv med smärta och om hur det varit att delta i smärtkursen. En djupintervju med halvöppna frågor med en av dessa tio har fördjupat materialet. Metoden är kvalitativ med hermeneutisk tolkning som analysverktyg. Resultatet av studien visar att deltagare i smärtkursen har gått igenom en process där det vanliga livet förändrats av smärtan som tvingat fram en omställning av det liv man tidigare levt. Studien visar att smärtkursens upplägg utifrån problembaserat lärande med bl.a. samtal och erfarenhetsutbyte i grupp gett positivt resultat för kursens en väsentlig faktor för resultatet.

Syftet med denna uppsats är att analysera på vilket sätt politiska ideologier kommer till uttryck i texter producerade av ABF och Medborgarskolan. Detta med utgångspunkt i vad jag upplever som oklara förhållanden rörande vilken betydelse ideologier i praktiken spelar för dessa studieförbund. I uppsatsen undersöks vilka ideologier som går att urskilja i två texter från ABF respektive Medborgarskolan, samt hur dessa ideologier uttrycks språkligt. Även två motsvarande texter från ett tredje studieförbund – Folkuniversitet – analyseras. Uppsatsen utgår såväl teoretiskt som metodologiskt från Norman Faircloughs kritiska diskursanalys. Analysen kompletteras även med en ideationell SFL-analys. Resultatet visar att ABF och Medborgarskolan grundar sig i samma folkbildningsdiskurs, men medan ABF-texterna är starkt präglade av en socialdemokratisk diskurs så består Medborgarskolans texter av en interdiskursiv blandning av folkbildnings-, borgerlig-, humanistisk- och positiv säljdiskurs. Avslutningsvis kopplas dessa resultat till den övergripande sociala praktik som studieförbunden är en del av.

Diss. Uppsala : Uppsala universitet, 2006. / Sammanfattning på engelska med titeln: The state of suspension : CSA and governmentality 1901-1921.

The aim of this master's thesis is to better understand the Swedish labour movement's independent libraries in the city of Malmö from the 1880's to the libraries' integration into the municipal library system, starting in 1927. In order to analyze and contextualize the workers' libraries I have used Habermas' theory of the public sphere together with Fraser's critique of Habermas as well as Gramsci's notion of hegemony. The study shows that the workers' libraries played an important role in the formation of class consciousness in Malmö. The libraries made discussion and circulation of information possible, and were parts of an independent subaltern counterpublic. The worker's libraries are also, like the municipal libraries, characterised by an ambition to disciplin andcultivate their users. In time, as a part of what Habermas calls the structural transformation of the public sphere, this subaltern counterpublic was integrated into the state. This is part of a larger process, where the municipalities are transformed into the “outermost branch” of the state. As part of this development the counterpublic expands to include larger groups, until it loses its character as an independent counterpublic: the counterpublic turns from addressing people in the notion of “working class” to people as the (national) population as a whole. In an attempt to improve its negotiation position, the workers' library in Malmö adopted an ideal of respectability (skötsamhet) and in exchange for economic funding agreed on abandoning its “agitational” activities. The library, as part of thesedevelopments, loses its independent political function.

This essay deals with the history of ideas of Swedish libraries. Furthermore, the essay aims to investigate how popular education was conceptualised in Biblioteksbladet during the period 1916–1926. To investigate this conceptualisation, an idea analysis is applied where ideal types are identified and where historical discourses are discussed and related to the subject area. The examined source material consists of 28 selected articles from Biblioteksbladet which have been analysed in a qualitative way. The content of the articles is related to previous research and to a historical context. This historical context deals with the concept of education, political events surrounding early 20th century Sweden, ideas about good literature, the individual versus the collective, and the ennoblement of man. Three ideal types have been identified: the enlightening; the educative; the ennobling. The enlightening ideal type is characterised by a discourse that is both liberal and enlightening. Here objective knowledge is conveyed through the library. This ideal type is also linked to a democratic discourse. The educative ideal type has a nationalistic character where public education aims to build a strong nation with the help of libraries. The ennobling ideal type focuses on the individual and the possibility of shaping and ennobling people through literature. In addition to the individual, children are seen as important in popular education. Children are the future of society, and it is therefore they who should be ennobled through good literature.

This qualitative discourse analysis examines the way in which the state’s intervention in issues concerning the public library in Sweden is depicted before the establishment of said institution, and more spefically during the years 1898 to 1903. The general aim of said analysis is to act as a kind of balance to the prevailing representation of the public library as an altogether democratic institution. In summary the public library is presented in the source material as being the solution to an array of societal issues. The background to these matters is furthermore explored to some extent. Among these, pulic library initiatives as one of the components in a larger popular education project can be mentioned. The further goal of this project is in turn to produce a more effective workforce and thereby strengthen the competetivness of the nation’s industries, as well as to function as an intrument for social integration, pacification of the working class, and development of a civic subject position. The theoretical approach has been composed of a number of various orientations. What can be said to be the common denominator of these, is the point of departure in historical materialism, as well as to some extent an understanding of the relation between state and civil society as being integrated in each other, rather than separated by a distinct boundary. In short the study concludes that the subsidization of public libraries by the state constitutes part of the transition from the an industrial capitalism, to that of an organized such. This change is pursued by efforts towards conjuring a mobilization behind the national project, and the strengthening of the nation’s industries in relation to international competition. Simultaneously a form of renegotiation of the social contract takes place, in which the cultivation of the subject position of the citizen as an alternative to that of the class-related subject can be said to be a crucial component. Altogether the long-term purpose of said activities can be interpreted as ways of suppressing an open class conflict, and turning it into a latent one. The public library is presented as a significant component in said process, since it contributes to an increase in the general level of education, an experience of national affinity and participation, as well as a concession to demands for social reforms.

The purpose of this thesis is to present, contextualize and interpret the educational philosophy of Natanael Beskow between 1920–1932. The examined source material consists of articles published in the journal Studiekamraten which ordinated from Birkagården folk high school (Birkagårdens folkhögskola) where Beskow served as principal. The content of the articles is related to previous research and to a historical context. This historical context deals primarily with the modernization of the Swedish society. The basic theoretical perspectives are theories about Bildung and liberal adult education presented by Bernt Gustavsson. This thesis finds that Beskow regarded education as an inner process that gradually raised and developed the individual’s moral capacity. Such neo-humanist views dominated pedagogical philosophy of the time. In addition, Beskow saw education as an instrument that could initiate a spiritual awakening. A challenging alternative to the established liberal adult education movement (folkbildningsrörelsen) was the class struggle education (klasskampsbildningen) that was formed within SKP. Its advocates regularly attacked Birkagården folk high school. Beskow was critical of the movement. He represented a contrasting ideal built around mutuality and democracy which partly originated from the foreign settlement movement.

Birka Folk High School, Jämtland County Folk High School, opened its doors in 1901 and welcomed its first students. As part of their studies, the students participated in discussions covering a wide range of issues. The purpose of this thesis has been to examine the views on citizenship expressed in discussions among students at Birka Folk High School in Sweden from 1901 to 1920. What characteristics did the students believe a good citizen should possess, and did these expectations differ based on gender? Can any contradictions between the region of Jämtland and the nation of Sweden be discerned in the students' discussions?  To answer these questions, five record books from Birka Folk High School's student discussions for the years 1901-1920 have been studied using a qualitative method.  The study found that the students expressed the belief that a good citizen should be self-controlled, honest, helpful, and sober. There were also differences in expectations depending on whether the citizen was a woman or a man. The woman was expected to be a healthy and good mother with primary responsibility for the home and child rearing, while the man was expected to be hardworking and dutiful.  In the students' discussions, there were no contradictions between the region of Jämtland and the nation of Sweden. The students expressed warm feelings for Jämtland, but these do not seem to create any aversion to the nation. It is rather that the students' feelings for the region put it in a larger context and create a sense of belonging with the nation. / Birka folkhögskola, då Jämtlands läns folkhögskola, slog upp portarna 1901 och tog emot sina första elever. Inom ramen för sina studier deltog eleverna i diskussioner där ett brett spektrum av frågor diskuterades.  Syftet med denna uppsats har varit att undersöka vilken syn på medborgarskap som framkommer i de diskussioner som folkhögskoleelever vid Birka folkhögskola hade under perioden 1901 till 1920. Vilka egenskaper ansågs en god medborgare behöva och skiljde elevernas förväntningar på hur en god medborgare skulle vara beroende på om medborgaren var en kvinna eller man? Kan någon motsättning mellan regionen Jämtland och nationen Sverige skönjas i elevernas diskussioner?  För att besvara frågorna har fem protokollsböcker från Birka folkhögskolas elevdiskussioner för åren 1901 - 1920 studerats. De diskussioner som bedömts relevanta utifrån uppsatsens syfte har studerats utifrån en kvalitativ metod.  Undersökningen visade att eleverna gav uttryck för att en god medborgare skulle visa självbehärskning, vara ärlig, hjälpsam och nykter. Det fanns även skillnader i förväntningar om medborgaren var kvinna eller man. Kvinnan skulle vara en sund och god mor vars huvudansvar var hemmet och barnuppfostran, medan mannen skulle vara arbetsam och plikttrogen.  I elevernas diskussioner framkom det inga motsättningar mellan regionen Jämtland och nationen Sverige. Eleverna uttrycker varma känslor för Jämtland men dessa verkar på inte skapa någon aversion mot nationen. Det är snarare så att elevernas känslor för regionen sätter in den i ett större sammanhang och skapar en känsla av tillhörighet med nationen.