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The Sami as an Obstacle to Development

Svensson, Kelly LU (2024) STVK12 20241
Department of Political Science
Abstract (Swedish)
The Nordic country of Sweden portrays itself as a leader in sustainable development and human rights advocacy. However, the expansion of what is portrayed as “green” mining activities in Sami territories creates cumulative pressure on traditional livelihoods like reindeer husbandry, which raises questions about the sustainability narrative. Previous research has focused on Swedish policy documents rather than debates which reveals a research gap in how the nexus of extraction and indigenous rights is framed within the parliament. This thesis uses discourse analysis to explore how the Sami people are portrayed in parliamentary debates about mining. This case study analyzes the language used in these debates through a postcolonial lens,... (More)
The Nordic country of Sweden portrays itself as a leader in sustainable development and human rights advocacy. However, the expansion of what is portrayed as “green” mining activities in Sami territories creates cumulative pressure on traditional livelihoods like reindeer husbandry, which raises questions about the sustainability narrative. Previous research has focused on Swedish policy documents rather than debates which reveals a research gap in how the nexus of extraction and indigenous rights is framed within the parliament. This thesis uses discourse analysis to explore how the Sami people are portrayed in parliamentary debates about mining. This case study analyzes the language used in these debates through a postcolonial lens, supported by extractivism and green colonialism. The analysis reveals two discourses, one where the Sami are portrayed as an obstacle to development showcasing the parliamentary mindset of extraction. The other discourse is illustrated by members of parliament advocating for Sami rights. Additionally, it is found that the state justifies Swedish mining by claiming that it facilitates the green transformation of Sweden and Europe. The findings contribute to the theories about green colonialism and extractivism as empirical evidence of how these concepts are manifested and naturalized in parliamentary debates. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Svensson, Kelly LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
A Discourse Analysis of the Portrayal of the Sami People in Swedish Parliamentary Debates
course
STVK12 20241
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Parliamentary discourse, Sami Peoples, Sweden, Mining, Green Colonialism
language
English
id
9153144
date added to LUP
2024-07-18 13:54:09
date last changed
2024-07-18 13:54:09
@misc{9153144,
  abstract     = {{The Nordic country of Sweden portrays itself as a leader in sustainable development and human rights advocacy. However, the expansion of what is portrayed as “green” mining activities in Sami territories creates cumulative pressure on traditional livelihoods like reindeer husbandry, which raises questions about the sustainability narrative. Previous research has focused on Swedish policy documents rather than debates which reveals a research gap in how the nexus of extraction and indigenous rights is framed within the parliament. This thesis uses discourse analysis to explore how the Sami people are portrayed in parliamentary debates about mining. This case study analyzes the language used in these debates through a postcolonial lens, supported by extractivism and green colonialism. The analysis reveals two discourses, one where the Sami are portrayed as an obstacle to development showcasing the parliamentary mindset of extraction. The other discourse is illustrated by members of parliament advocating for Sami rights. Additionally, it is found that the state justifies Swedish mining by claiming that it facilitates the green transformation of Sweden and Europe. The findings contribute to the theories about green colonialism and extractivism as empirical evidence of how these concepts are manifested and naturalized in parliamentary debates.}},
  author       = {{Svensson, Kelly}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Sami as an Obstacle to Development}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}