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Governing Through Aid: A Biopolitical Analysis of Swedish Development Policy

Abresparr, Agnes LU (2024) SIMZ31 20241
Graduate School
Abstract (Swedish)
This paper employs a biopolitical framework to critically analyse Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency’s (Sida) development and humanitarian policies, focusing on how these align with broader biopolitical strategies aimed to shape the lives of populations in recipient countries. Through a critical discourse analysis of four key policy documents, the study addresses the central question of how Sida’s policies reflect biopolitical governance. It reveals that Sida’s interventions and aid recipients are framed in ways that reinforce a hierarchy of populations, reflecting Sweden's interests and values. The study also highlights the conditional nature of Sweden's official development assistance, where aid is tied to recipients... (More)
This paper employs a biopolitical framework to critically analyse Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency’s (Sida) development and humanitarian policies, focusing on how these align with broader biopolitical strategies aimed to shape the lives of populations in recipient countries. Through a critical discourse analysis of four key policy documents, the study addresses the central question of how Sida’s policies reflect biopolitical governance. It reveals that Sida’s interventions and aid recipients are framed in ways that reinforce a hierarchy of populations, reflecting Sweden's interests and values. The study also highlights the conditional nature of Sweden's official development assistance, where aid is tied to recipients meeting criteria aligned with Swedish priorities. The research further explores how these policies are intertwined with broader neoliberal strategies, for example by promoting resilience and controlling global movements. Ultimately, the analysis suggests that Sida’s policies serve not only humanitarian purposes but also Sweden's security and economic interests, positioning Sweden as a moral and essential actor in global development while exporting Swedish norms and values. Altogether, the research contributes to discussions on development and humanitarian efforts, power dynamics, control and governance. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Abresparr, Agnes LU
supervisor
organization
course
SIMZ31 20241
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Sida, Sweden, biopolitics, development discourse, critical discourse analysis, security
language
English
id
9174432
date added to LUP
2024-09-13 14:46:28
date last changed
2024-09-13 14:46:28
@misc{9174432,
  abstract     = {{This paper employs a biopolitical framework to critically analyse Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency’s (Sida) development and humanitarian policies, focusing on how these align with broader biopolitical strategies aimed to shape the lives of populations in recipient countries. Through a critical discourse analysis of four key policy documents, the study addresses the central question of how Sida’s policies reflect biopolitical governance. It reveals that Sida’s interventions and aid recipients are framed in ways that reinforce a hierarchy of populations, reflecting Sweden's interests and values. The study also highlights the conditional nature of Sweden's official development assistance, where aid is tied to recipients meeting criteria aligned with Swedish priorities. The research further explores how these policies are intertwined with broader neoliberal strategies, for example by promoting resilience and controlling global movements. Ultimately, the analysis suggests that Sida’s policies serve not only humanitarian purposes but also Sweden's security and economic interests, positioning Sweden as a moral and essential actor in global development while exporting Swedish norms and values. Altogether, the research contributes to discussions on development and humanitarian efforts, power dynamics, control and governance.}},
  author       = {{Abresparr, Agnes}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Governing Through Aid: A Biopolitical Analysis of Swedish Development Policy}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}