This text aims to place nonhuman animals at the core of urban space and history to provide an insight into the life and materiality of dogs in Stockholm 1824-1920. The theoretical possibilities of more-than-human enquiries into history are discussed along with non-human animals as historical beings together with humans creating a common history (Ingold 2000, Whatmore 2002). Moreover nonhuman animals are discussed and incorporated in an exploration into using what is here discussed as a multispecies narrative and used as an analytical tool to try to avoid the pitfalls of representationalism. It is also introduced as a possible new methodology to approaching the urban landscape within the field of environmental history. The main empirical material of dogs in nineteenth century Stockholm are records from the city dog pound along with records of dog tax and rabies. Other than archive material a wide range of material contemporary to the research period such as art, photography and literature is used as part of a broad exploration of nonhuman animals as integral in materiality of Stockholm and as historical beings. Findings of the study confirm that dogs and other nonhuman animals hugely impacted both the spatial structure and social space of Stockholm and that this impact transformed over the research period defined by societal changes. More specifically the study shows that dogs played an important role as free roaming scavengers and were for this reason accepted as an integral part of the city in the nineteenth century in Stockholm. Later in the research period when the city became more regulated this role started to change and dogs were not accepted loose on the streets to the same degree and transformed into pets and symbols of social mobility and class. Regarding the use of a multispecies narrative the conclusion that can be drawn form this thesis is that is opens up for discussions on the materiality of urban space and history.

This thesis explores the ontologies of planning, science, and politics underlying the tunnel project at Hallandsås. Four such foundational (universal) views are identified – absolute conceptions of space, linear notions of time, binary logic and anthropocentrism. The thesis examines the subsequent re-workings of the foundational philosophies of space, time, environment, nature and the human behind the initial project in the aftermath of the environmental scandal. The basic aim of the thesis has been to argue for alternative ontologies of planning, science, and politics. In this regard, it is argued that a recasting of the foundational notions of mainstream planning, science and politics is a crucial first step. The thesis contends that perspectives based on hybrid geographies offer an alternative foundation for policy, planning and science that is closely adjusted to a more than human world. The issue of whether one can distinguish signs of a de facto shift to a hybrid geographic perspective in the post-Hallandsås tunnel project is also explored. The methodology of the study is inspired by the precepts of ANT (Actor Network Theory) of following actors in their networks, events and processes. In as much as humans and non-humans participate in the construction of the world in multiple or complex ways the thesis has tried to give voice to these different actors. As such, the study of the tunnel project follows a hybrid method, one that includes humans and non-humans. The thesis makes the case for discussing hybrid geographies as one possible alternative perspective in planning. Hybrid geographies propose a multifaceted perspective that argues for an inclusive geography and one that is adjusted to a more than human world. The experiences from the project at Hallandsås should therefore be applied to other projects and planning. In times of complex ecological and environmental problems, alternatives to mainstream planning are both desirable and required. Hybrid geographies involve issues of altering our ways of thinking, acting and being in the world, for our own good. In this regard, hybrid geographical perspectives could be a basis for alternatives to mainstream planning.