Peer-reviewed article
Changing balance: The Participation and Role of Voluntary Organisations in the Swedish Policy Process
2012Lundberg, E.Scandinavian Political Studies
What is this study about?
The study examines how the participation and role of civil society organisations in the Swedish political decision-making process have changed over time. The point of departure is the Swedish corporatist model, in which organised interests traditionally had institutionalised opportunities to take part in shaping policy. The study analyses what happens to the organisations' political role when these corporatist forms weaken and other forms of participation become more important.
What did we find?
Have civil society organisations become less significant as Swedish corporatism has weakened? The study rather shows a changed balance between different forms of participation. The organisations' institutionalised representation has declined, but this does not mean they have disappeared from the political process. Instead, participation has become more pluralist and taken other forms. The change therefore concerns both the degree of participation and how the organisations gain access to and act in political decision-making processes.
Why does it matter?
The political significance of civil society cannot be assessed solely on the basis of whether organisations participate more or less. The forms of participation also affect which organisations and interests gain access and how they can make their voices heard. The transition from corporatist representation to more pluralist participation therefore changes the relationship between the state and civil society and raises questions about representation, political equality and which societal interests are able to influence politics.
Citation
Lundberg, E. (2012) Changing balance: The Participation and Role of Voluntary Organisations in the Swedish Policy Process. Scandinavian Political Studies 35(4) 347–371
Research area
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