The aim of this thesis is to analyse the meaning of instances of classical reception and uses of Antiquity within student clubs and societies at Stockholm University. The analysis is structured around a variety of factors, concerning the names and symbols of local student associations, as well as their social events and theatrical projects. There are notable differences to be found between societies targeting Classics students and those aimed at other student groups. Even though instances of classical reception are present in many different types of student associations, they take on a particular meaning for Classics students, who are more invested in the accuracy of the references than others. The theoretical framework of Swedish scholar Peter Aronsson is used to explain these differences. Furthermore, the study indicates that all student organisations are somewhat dependent on the classical tradition existent within academia.

This essay addresses how associational life could be of importance for democracy and human rights in Sweden through examining how associational life can contribute to and strengthen democracy and create social capital. The purpose of this is to deepen and contribute to the knowledge of how activity in non-political and non-religious associations can become of importance to democracy in Sweden. This is operationalized through a stud of how active members of student associations in Sweden perceive their activity in these associations in relation to how they perceive democracy, their roles in society and what it means to be a good citizen, as well as how this relates to theories about the relationship between associational life and democracy in general. The essay concludes that the Swedish student associations as part of associational life in Sweden plays an important role in Swedish democracy. / Den här uppsatsen kommer att utforska hur föreningslivet kan få betydelse för demokratin och de mänskliga rättigheterna i Sverige genom att titta på hur föreningslivet kan bidra till att stärka demokratin och skapa socialt kapital. Syftet är att fördjupa kunskapen och bidra till förståelsen av hur engagemang i icke-politiska och icke-religiösa föreningar kan påverka Sveriges demokrati. Detta operationaliseras genom att undersöka hur föreningsaktiva inom svenska studentföreningar ser på sitt eget engagemang i förhållande till demokrati, sin roll i samhället och vad det innebär att vara en god medborgare och hur detta förhåller sig till teorier om föreningslivets förhållande till demokrati i allmänhet. Uppsatsen når slutsatsen att de svenska studentföreningarna som en del av det svenska föreningslivet har en viktig roll att spela för demokratin i Sverige.