Stödet för en restriktiv alkoholpolitik har i den samlade väljarkåren ökat kraftigt sedan EU-inträdet enligt SOM (Samhälle, opinion och medier)-institutets årliga enkätundersökningar. Trots det finns en tillbakagång av den restriktiva alkoholpolitiken där det framkommit nya försäljningskanaler, ökad marknadsföring och lägre alkoholskatt. Denna utveckling ger upphov till frågeställningen om stödet för alkoholpolitiken även återfinns bland partiföreträdarna. Uppsatsen resultat visar att åsiktsrepresentativiteten mellan partiföreträdare och väljarkår kring den restriktiva hållningen till stor del är väl överensstämmande. Synen på att det behövs samhälleliga åtgärder för att minska konsekvenserna av alkoholkonsumtionen tycks även ha en god åsiktsrepresentativitet mellan partiföreträdare och väljarkår. Resultatet kan ses som en indikation för att partipolitiska åsikter inte har varit en bidragande orsak till minskad restriktiv politik utan av andra anledningar.

Public service broadcasting is a longstanding broadcasting institution in Sweden. Being the most consumed and highly trusted media broadcasting institution on the market, it suffers both challenges and acclaim. It has become a highly politized matter. For the first time since its founding, trust and attitudes towards the public service broadcasting companies are starting to slowly dwindle and are being questioned. Representatives from parliament parties are calling for abolishment and restructuring, and the consumers are abandoning the public service broadcasting channels for commercial competitors. This is especially noticeable amongst youth. The aim of the study is to identify and analyse what factors can be relevant for understanding attitudes towards public service broadcasting. With a theoretical background in Markus Prior’s post-broadcast democracy, James G. Webster and Thomas B. Ksiazek’s audience fragmentation theory, and Strömbäck’s definition of media trust, a theoretical framework regarding consumption and factors concerning attitudes was constructed. Through this, the value of a public service broadcasting system could be charted, and consumer attitudes be understood.   The study consists of data from a nationwide survey. The data was analysed with binary logistic regression analysis, performed on two samples, one representing the Swedish population at large, and one representing youth. This to observe whether or not there were any differences between what factors constitute trust and positive attitudes towards public service broadcasting. Main findings include that youth is much less politically polarised than the population at large. Factors such as education, gender, and regularly consuming public service broadcasting content were also shown to be significant for attitude formation. From this, I could derive that the Swedish population, despite increased polarisation, still has very high levels of trust in, and positive sentiments towards the public service broadcasting company SVT.

In this thesis ”The Dialectics of Technology: Ambivalences and Ruptures in Herbert Marcuses’ Philosophy of Technology” I present a thorough analysis of Herbert Marcuses’philosophy of technology as it developed from the late 1940s until his death in 1979. Whereas, previous studies have tried to reduce his philosophy of technology to one coherent project, I argue that his philosophy of technology is characterised by ambivalences and ruptures and therefore cannot be reduced to such a coherent totality. Marcuses’ philosophy of technology vacillates between what I, with Andrew Feenbergs’ concepts, callan instrumentalist and substantialist notion of technology. An instrumentalist notion is one where technology is understood merely as a tool to be wielded by external actors, in Marcuses’ case that of the capitalist class and the state. In contrast to this, Marcuse also precents a substantialist philosophy of technology, where it is imbued with its own agency and direction.The previous scholarship has largely reduced Marcuses’ philosophy to one of these positions, rather than emphasising how both of them are present through out the text. Furthermore, I argue that his substantialist understanding of technology itself is characterised by ruptures and ambivalences, where technology is viewed both as inherently emancipatory and as inherently subjugating. It is in regard to this duality I argue that his philosophy of technology should be understood as dialectical, in the sense that technology at the same time can be a central part of human subjection and one of the most important vehicles for emancipation. In relation to this, I agree with Samir Gandesha that one of the most fruitful directions Marcuses’ philosophy opens is an understanding of technology as bearer of a historical substance, that is to say that technology is imbued with certain goals, desires and world-views beyond those of the wielder, while at the same time understanding that this substance can be changed through historical processes. Beyond the more exegetic presentation of Marcuses’ philosophy and the critique against the previous scholarship, I argue for critical theory, and especially Marcuses’, relevance for current debates around technology and automation. In the current debates between left wing accelerationist cheerleaders of technology and those radicals more sceptical of technologies emancipatory potential, an investigation into the nature of technology itself is severely lacking. While, the former uncritically embraces the technology arisen in capitalist society and views it as a direct path towards a utopian post-scarcity communism,the latter solely focuses on technology as a tool of capitalist class power. In relation to this, I argue that the historical and dialectical understanding of technology that can be salvaged from Marcuses oeuvre would be a welcome and useful addition to the debate.

In the 10s, the researcher and surgeon Paolo Macchiarini was employed at Karolinska Institutet and the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden. When Swedish Television published a documentary series in 2016 about Paolo Macchiarini, it revealed several scandals linked to his activities at the units that led them to crisis. Shortly thereafter, suspicions were raised against Paolo Macchiarini for research fraud and unethical operations, which he was later convicted for in the Supreme Court in 2023. This study aims to investigate Karolinska Institute and Karolinska University Hospital's external crisis communication regarding the Macchiarini case through a rhetorical content analysis. The purpose of the study is to find out whether the units communicated during the crisis to repair their trust through the defense strategies Image Repair Theory, apologia, situational crisis communication theory and the rhetorical appeal forms ethos, pathos and logos. The analysis will be based on all articles published by the units via their own websites between 2017 and 2024, with the study's theoretical framework as a basis. The study's analysis and results show that Karolinska Institute and Karolinska University Hospital have largely used various crisis management strategies in the published articles in accordance with Image Repair Theory, apologia, situational crisis theory as well as the forms of appeal. The result of the study shows that Karolinska Institute and Karolinska University Hospital frequently use strategies to repair their reputation by separating themselves from Macchiarini and use fact-based arguments such as external investigations as a base for their facts in their crisis communication. Karolinska Institute and Karolinska University Hospital, at the same time show several actions taken within Karolinska Institute and Karolinska University Hospital to improve and ensure that something similar does not happen again. The results of the study also show that Karolinska Institute and Karolinska University Hospital have been open and transparent in their communication. / Under 10-talet anställdes forskaren och läkaren Paolo Macchiarini vid Karolinska Institutet samt Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset i Stockholm, Sverige. När Sveriges Television publicerade en dokumentärserie 2016 gällande Paolo Macchiarini avslöjades flertalet skandaler kopplade till hans verksamhet vid enheterna som ledde dem till kris. Det uppdagades kort därefter misstanke gentemot Paolo Macchiarini för forskningsfusk samt oetiska operationer, vilket han senare under 2023 kom att dömas för i Högsta Domstol. Denna studie ämnar således att undersöka Karolinska Institutet samt Karolinska Universitetssjukhusets externa kriskommunikation gällande Macchiarinifallet genom en kvalitativ retorisk innehållsanalys. Syftet med studien är att ta reda på huruvida enheterna kommunicerat under krisen för att reparera sitt anförtroende genom försvarsstrategierna Image Repair Theory, apologia, situational crisis communication theory samt de retoriska appellformerna ethos, pathos och logos. Analysen kommer baseras på samtliga artiklar som enheterna publicerat via deras egna webbsidor mellan perioden 2017 till och med 2024, med studiens teoretiska ramverk som grund. Studiens analys samt resultat visar på att Karolinska Institutet samt Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset till stor del använt sig av olika krishanteringsstrategier i de publicerade artiklarna i enlighet med Image Repair Theory, apologia, situational crisis theory såväl som appellformerna. Studiens resultat visar på att Karolinska Institutet och Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset använder sig frekvent av strategier för att reparera deras anseende genom att särskilja sig själva från Macchiarini, och använder sig av faktabaserade argument som exempelvis externa utredningar som grund till sin fakta i sin kriskommunikation. Karolinska Institutet och Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset visar samtidigt på en rad åtgärder som införts inom Karolinska Institutet samt Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset för att förbättra samt att se till att något liknande inte händer igen. Studiens resultat visar även på att Karolinska Institutet och Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset varit öppen och transparant i sin kommunikation.

This thesis at the Institute for Language and Folklore has as its purpose to lay a foundation for a continuinginventory work. The tasks I have performed during my time there was to create an archival description, anintroduction to the material and a process map showing the process of incoming delivery of documents. The aimwas never to finish the list of work, but to structure the material to get an insight into the material and to theproblems that existed within. The documents are of a very unique nature and require that the archivist is familiarwith and have knowledge of sign language. One of the problems I encountered was how fragmented the materialwas. The documents are divided between Stockholm and Uppsala, which means that provenance becomesparticularly significant for this material. By revoking parts of the material from the National Archives in Stockholm,the institute is trying to reduce the distribution part of the process. But this is a problem that affects all documentsand will therefore affect the entire inventory process. The Institute's goal is to digitizing documents and make itmore accessible for researchers.

This dissertation examines two daily newspapers’ representations of eugenics from the incipient racial biological investigation 1919 until 1958, and the State Institute for Racial Biology is reorganized. The dissertation also aims to examine whether there are any distinct turning points where the newspapers distance themselves from the ideas and the research of eugenics. The analysis material is based on newspaper articles from two national dailies, i.e., Svenska Dagbladet and Dagens Nyheter. The theoretical framework and method are based on Fairclough’s discourse theory and analysis to observe and elucidate how eugenics is represented over a longer period of time. The conclusion of the dissertation is that the newspapers continuously designate racial biology as something unique and being the salvation from degeneration until Herman Lundborg resigns as head of the institute. After Gunnar Dahlberg took over the managerial position the activities at the Institute changed course and the research undertaken there became engaged in medical genetics and social medicine instead of racial biology. The main argument for the establishment of the institute was that it would provide protection for the Swedish race. The norms and attitudes were more about the science and somewhat about nationalism, while what we now call racism did not seem to be included at all. The discourses about racial biology that have arisen have been maintained in society through the newspapers, as the recipients have been continuously fed with praiseworthy and warning words. This fits with Foucault’s reasoning and theory which he clarifies the fact that discourses are conditioned by how society discusses about something that over time has been an influence on how people are classified or treated by the newspapers that maintains it.

The current regulation for Medical Devices (MDR) entered into force on 26 May 2021, which has entailed major changes to relevant legislation for in-house production of medical devices in healthcare. The relevance for updating existing, or the development of new standards is currently not well documented and determined and the aim of this report is to make recommendations for how the development of standards may be improved and how departments of medical technology (DMT) in practice apply standards at in-house production of medical devices. The sub-areas that are dealt with in in-house production are reprocessing of single use devices, 3D printing and medical technology software. How standards are used to support departments of medical technology in manufacturing in these areas is described and analyzed in this report. Information for the study was collected through semi-structural interviews with several DMTs and relevant authorities. The information was analyzed, discussed, and compared with previous research. The use of standards varied between DMTs, but all interviewees used standards to some extent. The study concluded that there was an interest from DMTs and a potential need to update existing standards and the production of new standards to meet DMT’s needs. / Nuvarande förordning för medicintekniska produkter (MDR) trädde i kraft den 26 maj 2021, vilket har inneburit stora förändringar på relevant lagstiftning för egentillverkning av medicintekniska produkter inom sjukvården. Relevansen för uppdatering av existerande, alternativt utveckling av nya standarder är i nuläget ej väl dokumenterat och klarlagt och målet med denna rapport är att komma med rekommendationer för hur utveckling av standarder kan förbättras samt hur medicintekniska avdelningar (MTA) i praktiken applicerar sig av standarder vid egentillverkning av medicintekniska produkter. De delområden som behandlas inom egentillverkning är reprocessing av engångsartiklar, 3D-printing och medicinteknisk mjukvara. Hur standarder används som stöd av MTA vid tillverkning inom dessa områden beskrivs och analyseras i denna rapport. Information för studien insamlades genom semi-strukturella intervjuer med flera MT-avdelningar och relevanta myndigheter.Informationen analyserades, diskuterades och jämfördes med tidigare forskning. Användandet av standarder varierade mellan MTA, men alla intervjuade använde standarder i någon utsträckning. Det framkom i studien både ett intresse för uppdatering av existerande standarder och framställning av nya standarder för att bemöta MTAs behov.

With the outbreak of COVID-19, the Swedish government allocated specific financial support to cultural practitioners, however, excluding curators from this assistance. As a result, a group of engaged professionals formed the Swedish Curators’ Association, marking a recent effort in curatorial self-organization. This study aims to understand and illuminate the phenomenon of curatorial self-organization and how the experience of self-organizing is understood by curators in 2022. It investigates the past and current personal lived experiences of four curators through phenomenological methodological, and theoretical approaches. Next, the study explores how their perception correlates with the current curatorial lifeworld. At the core of this study is the hypothesis that in a consolidated lifeworld, curatorial self-organization becomes a model of a joint phenomenological body, functioning as a mechanism of sustainability, balance, and orientation due to the diversity of curatorial practices and experiences of its members. Archival materials and four interviews are at the core of the research. Study results showed that curatorial self-understanding and perception of self-organization are formed very individually; therefore, it would be inaccurate to generalize the phenomenon without having that in mind. Additionally, several internal and external factors played a significant role in the latest formation and perception of the phenomenon. The study also revealed that previous experiences of curatorial self-organizations have not been present in today’s active curatorial lifeworld, existing as familiar yet distant memories. Finally, the study goes beyond its initial hypothesis to find that the current attempt to self-organize curatorially in Sweden can be equated to a tool for curators to self-define, articulate the changing curatorial roles, and re-understand the essence of the profession.

This thesis examines Swedish values from the perspectives of international and Swedish students residing in Sweden, with the collaboration of the Swedish Institute—a public agency focused on enhancing Sweden’s global image and attractiveness to researchers, students, and talents. The research explores the field of nation branding, public diplomacy, and soft power. The study aims to analyze the interpretation and understanding of Swedish values among individuals with international backgrounds and compare it to the perspective of local students. Drawing upon the framework of Joseph Nye’s concepts of public diplomacy and soft power, the paper emphasizes the importance of understanding how international students perceive Swedish values and how these perceptions are influenced by their experiences. The research questions address the values associated with Sweden before and after students’ arrival, the valence attributed to these values, and the opinions and perceptions of international students regarding the values promoted through studyinsweden.se channels, particularly the concept of "The Swedish Way." A qualitative study employing thematic analysis was conducted, including two focus groups and a survey. Five main themes emerged from the analysis: (1) The Democratic way of Sweden, (2) The Image of Swedes, (3) Conflicting values in Swedish society, (4) Differences in values across regions and over time, and (5) The Idealization of Sweden. Notably, values strongly associated with Sweden were connected to democracy, including Equality, Freedom, Socialism, Individualism, and Collectivism. Other values perceived as Swedish encompassed sustainability, Jante Law, Lagom, calmness, diplomacy, conflict-avoidance, friendship, understanding, politeness, tolerance, and open-mindedness. The findings reveal that international students often hold an idealized view of Sweden, leading to a shift in their perspective upon arrival. Swedish students, on the other hand, note changes in Swedish values over time, with increased perceptions of bigotry and racism and decreased emphasis on inclusivity and openness. While participants generally held positive perspectives on Swedish values, there were also indications of negative perceptions, such as bigotry and racism. Participants expressed some agreement with the values promoted by the Swedish Institute but also pointed out instances where the promotion did not align with the reality of Sweden. This research contributes to understanding how international students perceive Swedish values both before and after their arrival, filling a gap in international students’ perceptions of Sweden. The findings highlight the importance of balancing the promotion of Sweden’s attractive aspects with a realistic portrayal, utilizing milder expressions and focusing on factual evidence of sustainability and equality. By actively examining and addressing perceptions, Sweden can enhance its nation branding efforts and attract a diverse pool of talented individuals. / Den här uppsatsen undersöker svenska värderingar ur perspektivet hos internationella och svenska studenter som vistas i Sverige, i samarbete med det Svenska Institutet - en offentlig myndighet inriktad på att förbättra Sveriges globala bild och attraktivitet för forskare, studenter och talanger. Forskningen utforskar området nation branding, offentlig diplomati, och mjuk makt. Studien syftar till att analysera tolkningen och förståelsen av svenska värderingar hos studenter med internationella bakgrunder och jämföra detta med perspektivet hos lokala studenter. Med utgångspunkt i Joseph Nyes ramverk för public diplomacy och soft power betonar avhandlingen vikten av att förstå hur internationella studenter uppfattar svenska värderingar och hur dessa uppfattningar påverkas av deras erfarenheter. Forskningsfrågorna behandlar de värderingar som associeras med Sverige före och efter studenternas ankomst, valensen som tillskrivs dessa värderingar, samt internationella studenters åsikter och uppfattningar om värderingarna som främjas genom studyinsweden.se kanalerna, med fokus på konceptet "The Swedish Way". En kvalitativ studie med tematisk analys genomfördes, inklusive två fokusgrupper och en enkätundersökning. Fem huvudteman framkom genom analysen: (1) Den Svenska Demokratiska Vägen, (2) Bilden av svenskar, (3) Värderingskonflikter i det svenska samhället, (4) Skillnader i värderingar mellan olika regioner och över tid, samt (5) Idealiseringen av Sverige. De värderingar som var starkt förknippade med Sverige var kopplat till demokrati, till exempel, Jämlikhet, Frihet, Socialism, Individualism och Kollektivism. Andra värderingar som uppfattades som svenska var hållbarhet, Jantelagen, Lagom, lugn, diplomati, undvikande av konflikter, vänskap, förståelse, artighet, tolerans och öppenhet. Resultaten visar att många internationella studenter har en idealiserad syn på Sverige, vilket leder till en förändring i deras perspektiv vid ankomsten. Svenska studenter noterar däremot förändringar i svenska värderingar över tid, med ökad uppfattning om fördomar och rasism samt minskad betoning på inkludering och öppenhet. Även om deltagarna generellt hade positiva perspektiv på svenska värderingar fanns det även indikationer på negativa uppfattningar som fördomar och rasism. Deltagarna uttryckte viss samstämmighet med de värderingar som främjas av det Svenska Institutet men påpekade också situationer där främjandet inte överensstämde med verkligheten i Sverige. Denna forskning bidrar till förståelsen av hur internationella studenter uppfattar svenska värderingar både före och efter deras ankomst och fyller en kunskapslucka kring internationella studenters syn på Sverige. Resultaten understryker vikten av att balansera främjandet av Sveriges attraktiva sidor med en realistisk framställning, genom att använda mildare uttryck och fokusera på konkreta bevis för hållbarhet och jämlikhet. Genom att aktivt undersöka uppfattningarna kan Sverige förbättra sina ansträngningar inom nation branding och locka till sig en mångfald av talangfulla individer.

The New Medical Device Regulations (MDR) will become affective on 26 May, 2021. The new regulation entails higher requirements for companies that develop medical devices, but also for all parties involved in the medical device industry. The strengthened requirements mean that it will be more difficult to meet all the criteria for placing medical devices on the market. This thesis has been carried out on behalf of the Swedish Institute for Standards (SIS) and examines companies' transition to MDR and how companies can get support from SIS, but also by other organizations and authorities. A qualitative literature study and document study has been carried out to ponder interview questions, which have then been answered by companies, authorities and organizations who are in one way or another affected by the transition to MDR. Part of the work was also to find out how the companies, depending on size, differ from each other to comply with the new regulation. The results showed that the transition to MDR differs significantly between all the interviewed parties, but that everyone agrees that standardization is important. / Den nya förordningen om medicintekniska produkter (MDR) kommer att träda i kraft den 26 maj, 2021. Den nya förordningen innebär högre krav på företag som utvecklar medicintekniska produkter, men även på alla inblandade parter i den medicintekniska industrin. De stärkta kraven innebär att det kommer vara svårare att uppfylla alla kriterier för att kunna placera medicintekniska produkter på marknaden. Detta examensarbete har utförts på uppdrag av Svenska Institutet för Standarder (SIS) och undersöker företagens övergång till MDR och hur företag kan få stöd, bland annat av SIS, men också av andra organisationer och myndigheter. Det har genomförts en kvalitativ litteraturstudie och dokumentstudie för att formulera intervjufrågor som sedan har besvarats av företag, myndigheter och organisationer som på ett eller annat sätt blir påverkade vid övergången till MDR. En del av arbetet var även att ta reda på hur företagen, beroende på storlek, skiljer sig mellan varandra vad gälleratt uppfylla det nya regelverket. Resultatet visade att övergången till MDR skiljer sig markant mellan alla de intervjuade parterna, men att alla är eniga om att standardisering är viktigt.