Contentious Politics and the Welfare State: Squatting in Sweden (Cities and Society)

This book outlines the history of squatting in Sweden and analyzes the conditions under which squatting has intensified and declined in the country between 1968 and 2017. With close attention to the relationship between civil society and the state in the Swedish context, and the manner in which this relationship, together with attendant political, media and movement-based discourses, shapes the possibilities that exist for collective action, the author draws on two key concepts - those of the narrative of consensus and discourse - to present an analysis of squatting as a form of contentious politics and the "successful "story of civil society development as decisive for its emergence and development in the country. A study of the way in which confrontational actors question both the property relations inherent in capitalism and the authority of the welfare state and its institutions, Contentious Politics and the Welfare State will appeal to social scientists with interests in urban studies, political sociology, squatting, social movements and the relationship between the welfare state and contentious social actors. Cover -1 Half Title -1 Series Page -1 Title Page -1 Copyright Page -1 Dedication -1 Table of Contents -1 List of illustrations -1 Acknowledgements -1 Introduction -1 Welfare state and the formation of consensus discourse -1 Squatting in Sweden 1968–2017 -1 Different positions – differing discourses -1 Critical discourse analysis: examining power and ideology -1 Critical discourse analysis as theory and method: how it is done -1 The contents of the book -1 Notes -1 1. Previous studies on squatting in Sweden and beyond -1 The radicalization of the 1960s -1 People’s Home Anarchists of the 1970s -1 Municipal politics disarming the radical edge in the 1980s -1 The fragmented picture of squatting in the 1990s -1 Blind spot despite considerable squatting activity in the 2000s -1 Collective actors behind squatting in Sweden -1 International research on squatting -1 Conclusion: a need for a new research agenda -1 Note -1 2. Squatting in the Swedish media -1 Discourses and the media -1 Late 1960s and 1970s: stressing the illegality of squatting -1 1980s: squatters vs. the police -1 The 1990s: fascination with violence -1 The 2000s: the rise and fall of the autonomous -1 Tendency to focus on the negative characteristics -1 Conclusions: (de)legitimization techniques used -1 3. Parliamentary discussions and delegitimation techniques -1 Political discourse and squatting -1 Finding antagonists and agonists of the Swedish model -1 The struggle over democracy and representation -1 The emergence of a young squatter -1 Swedish squatting in focus or blame it all on the Social Democrats -1 Strengthening democracy through securitization -1 Portrayal and delegitimization of squatters and squatting -1 Conclusions: the reproduction of political power -1 Appendix -1 4. Squatters’ self-presentations and the creation of adversaries -1 Who are the squatters? -1 Who are the Others? -1 Conclusions: squatters as respectable agents -1 5. “It is right to rebel” or why squatters do what they do -1 The goals of squatting -1 Legitimizing squatting -1 When all democratic means are exhausted -1 Conclusions: squatters’ legitimacy claims -1 6. Conclusion: Contesting consensus -1 Squatting as a resistance to the logic of the market -1 Values, ideas and identities promoted in the hegemonic discourse -1 People’s Home Anarchists or the creation of a respectable squatter -1 Contentious politics as indicators of what is wrong with society -1 Who are the people? -1 Mediatized politics and the depoliticization of collective claims -1 Conclusions: contesting consensus -1 References -1 Index -1 This book outlines the history of squatting in Sweden and analyzes the conditions under which squatting has intensified and declined in the country between 1968 and 2017. With close attention to the relationship between civil society and the state in the Swedish context, and the manner in which this relationship, together with attendant political, media and movement-based discourses, shapes the possibilities that exist for collective action, the author draws on two key concepts those of the narrative of consensus and discourse to present an analysis of squatting as a form of contentious politics and the successful story of civil society development as decisive for its emergence and development in the country. A study of the way in which confrontational actors question both the property relations inherent in capitalism and the authority of the welfare state and its institutions, Contentious Politics and the Welfare Stat e will appeal to social scientists with interests in urban studies, political sociology, squatting, social movements and the relationship between the welfare state and contentious social actors. This Book Outlines The History Of Squatting In Sweden And Analyses The Conditions Under Which Squatting Has Intensified And Declined In The Country Between 1968 And 2017. With Close Attention To The Relationship Between Civil Society And The State In The Swedish Context, And The Manner In Which This Relationship, Together With Attendant Political, Media And Movement-based Discourses, Shapes The Possibilities That Exist For Collective Action, The Author Draws On Two Key Concepts - Those Of The Narrative Of Consensusand Discourse- To Present An Analysis Of Squatting As A Form Of Contentious Politics And The Successful Story Of Civil Society Development As Decisive For Its Emergence And Development In The Country. A Study Of The Way In Which Confrontational Actors Question Both The Property Relations Inherent In Capitalism And The Authority Of The Welfare State And Its Institutions, Contentious Politics And The Welfare Statewill Appeal To Social Scientists With Interests In Urban Studies, Political Sociology, Squatting, Social Movements And The Relationship Between The Welfare State And Contentious Social Actors.