Report
Från omsorg och givande till politisk röst: Det medborgerliga engagemangets uttryck och förändring i det svenska samhället 1992–2024
2025Lundberg, E., von Essen, J., Henrekson, E., & Jegermalm, M.Marie Cederschiöld högskola, Arbetsrapport nr 132
What is this study about?
The study examines how people's civic engagement in Sweden has developed from 1992 to 2024. The perspective is broader than traditional voluntary work and includes, among other things, informal helping, monetary giving and political participation. Drawing on recurring population surveys, it analyses how different forms of engagement have changed over time, which groups participate, and how engagement relates to people's resources, values and sense of being able to make a difference.
What did we find?
Civic engagement takes many different forms – from helping others and giving money to trying to influence societal development politically. The study shows both continuity and change in these forms of engagement between 1992 and 2024. At the same time, engagement is unevenly distributed and relates to, among other things, people's resources, values and confidence in their own ability to make a difference. The report thus paints a broader picture of how people participate in and contribute to society than what emerges from studying membership or voluntary work alone.
Why does it matter?
Democratic and civic participation takes place in far more ways than through elections and membership in organizations. By studying everything from caring for others and monetary giving to political influence, the report makes visible different paths to civic engagement. At the same time, the differences between groups show that the opportunities to participate are not evenly distributed. This is important for understanding who gets the chance to contribute, make their voice heard and influence society – and who risks being left outside different forms of civic engagement.
Citation
Lundberg, E., von Essen, J., Henrekson, E., & Jegermalm, M. (2025) Från omsorg och givande till politisk röst: Det medborgerliga engagemangets uttryck och förändring i det svenska samhället 1992–2024. Marie Cederschiöld högskola, Arbetsrapport nr 132
Research area
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