Peer-reviewed article
Injured but Not Yet Dead: A Bottom-Up Perspective on the Swedish Governmental Commissions
2015Lundberg, E.International Journal of Public Administration
What is this study about?
The study examines the significance the Swedish state commissions still have for interest groups' participation in political decision-making processes. Rather than only studying institutional change from above, attention is directed at the organisations themselves and their experiences of participating. The study thus asks whether, despite the decline of Swedish corporatism, the commissions still function as a relevant channel between organised interests and the state.
What did we find?
Has the Swedish system of governmental commissions lost its significance as traditional corporatism has weakened? The study gives a more nuanced answer. The institutionalised forms for interest groups' participation have weakened, but the commissions have not ceased to be a relevant arena for organised interests. Organisations continue to use participation to advance perspectives, gain information and create contacts with other actors in the political process. The institution is, in other words, weakened – but not dead.
Why does it matter?
The system of governmental commissions has historically been an important link between the state and organised societal interests in Sweden. The study shows why a decline in formal corporatism should not be equated with the organisations having lost their role in politics. Older institutions can change in function and significance without disappearing. This is important for understanding how the relationship between the state and civil society organisations changes, and how organised interests can still gain access to political decision-making processes.
Citation
Lundberg, E. (2015) Injured but Not Yet Dead: A Bottom-Up Perspective on the Swedish Governmental Commissions. International Journal of Public Administration 38(5) 346–354
Research area
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