Peer-reviewed article
Towards a New Social Contract? The Participation of Civil Society in Swedish Welfare Policymaking, 1958–2012
2020Lundberg, E.Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations
What is this study about?
The study examines how civil society's participation in the shaping of Swedish welfare policy changed between 1958 and 2012. By following which organizations take part in state decision-making processes across several welfare areas, it analyses whether the transition from a more corporatist welfare model to a more pluralist and market-oriented system has also changed which organized interests gain access to politics and what roles they play.
What did we find?
The study follows civil society's participation in Swedish welfare policymaking over more than fifty years. The results show no dramatic transformation, but rather a slow change in which organizations take part and what role they play. Among other things, the share of advocacy-oriented organizations declines, while business organizations gain a stronger position – changes that reflect a more pluralist and market-oriented welfare system.
Why does it matter?
Which organizations get to take part in political decision-making processes affects which experiences, interests and perspectives are represented when welfare policy is shaped. The study shows that major institutional changes do not necessarily lead to sudden changes in civil society's participation, but can occur gradually over a long period of time. At the same time, the shift from advocacy-oriented organizations to other organized interests raises questions about civil society's ability to represent citizens and bring their interests into the political decision-making process.
Citation
Lundberg, E. (2020) Towards a New Social Contract? The Participation of Civil Society in Swedish Welfare Policymaking, 1958–2012. Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations 31 1371–1384
Research area
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