Neoliberalism and the Swedish welfare state in times of pandemic: A discourse analysis of (health)care, work, and economy as articulated in news publications
(2021) GNVM03 20211Department of Gender Studies
- Abstract
- Taking the ongoing coronavirus pandemic as the point of departure, this thesis aims to explore the relationship between neoliberalism and the welfare state in Sweden, which has long been regarded a prime example of a successful marriage between capitalism and socialism through the social democratic welfare state. With this in mind, this thesis explores the areas of (health)care, work, and economy as articulated within the three news publications of Aftonbladet, Dagens Nyheter, and Sveriges Television. Focusing on political discourses, two major themes were found within the material: responsibilisation and neoliberal policy. Using two divergent theoretical bodies – social reproduction theory and governmentality, the analysis makes clear... (More)
- Taking the ongoing coronavirus pandemic as the point of departure, this thesis aims to explore the relationship between neoliberalism and the welfare state in Sweden, which has long been regarded a prime example of a successful marriage between capitalism and socialism through the social democratic welfare state. With this in mind, this thesis explores the areas of (health)care, work, and economy as articulated within the three news publications of Aftonbladet, Dagens Nyheter, and Sveriges Television. Focusing on political discourses, two major themes were found within the material: responsibilisation and neoliberal policy. Using two divergent theoretical bodies – social reproduction theory and governmentality, the analysis makes clear that the neoliberal discourse permeates any discussions about (health)care, work, and economy. Thus, demands for the state to take responsibility for the deleterious effects of the pandemic can only be understood within a neoliberal framework. Calls to increase funding for (health)care, as well as spending money to save jobs and businesses, should therefore be considered policies geared towards maintaining the status quo. Furthermore, the analysis points both to a clear individual responsibilisation articulated mainly in discussions of work, and a lack of recognition of the importance of social reproduction for the functioning of our societies. This results in a bleak outlook for anyone who would rather see a dismantling of the neoliberal hegemony. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9053560
- author
- Chee Breschel, Sofie LU
- supervisor
-
- Sara Kauko LU
- organization
- course
- GNVM03 20211
- year
- 2021
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- welfare state, neoliberalism, governmentality, social reproduction theory (SRT), Sweden
- language
- English
- id
- 9053560
- date added to LUP
- 2021-09-23 08:02:34
- date last changed
- 2021-09-23 08:02:34
@misc{9053560,
abstract = {{Taking the ongoing coronavirus pandemic as the point of departure, this thesis aims to explore the relationship between neoliberalism and the welfare state in Sweden, which has long been regarded a prime example of a successful marriage between capitalism and socialism through the social democratic welfare state. With this in mind, this thesis explores the areas of (health)care, work, and economy as articulated within the three news publications of Aftonbladet, Dagens Nyheter, and Sveriges Television. Focusing on political discourses, two major themes were found within the material: responsibilisation and neoliberal policy. Using two divergent theoretical bodies – social reproduction theory and governmentality, the analysis makes clear that the neoliberal discourse permeates any discussions about (health)care, work, and economy. Thus, demands for the state to take responsibility for the deleterious effects of the pandemic can only be understood within a neoliberal framework. Calls to increase funding for (health)care, as well as spending money to save jobs and businesses, should therefore be considered policies geared towards maintaining the status quo. Furthermore, the analysis points both to a clear individual responsibilisation articulated mainly in discussions of work, and a lack of recognition of the importance of social reproduction for the functioning of our societies. This results in a bleak outlook for anyone who would rather see a dismantling of the neoliberal hegemony.}},
author = {{Chee Breschel, Sofie}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Neoliberalism and the Swedish welfare state in times of pandemic: A discourse analysis of (health)care, work, and economy as articulated in news publications}},
year = {{2021}},
}