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Meriter, ministrar och misslyckad representation: En studie om utbildningens roll i svensk politik

Hörnfeldt Strandbrink, Vanja LU (2025) STVK04 20242
Department of Political Science
Abstract
This study examines the relationship between the educational levels of Swedish government members and political representation over time. Using quantitative content analysis, data was collected from published CVs of politicians, coded, and analyzed to identify trends in educational attainment from 1969 to 2022. The analysis draws on Pitkin’s theory of representation, Öhberg’s models on political career ambitions, and Folke and Rickne’s concepts of class- and glass ceilings, offering insights into barriers to political advancement. The results reveal a contrasting development: while the proportion of highly educated members of parliament has steadily increased, government members’ educational levels have declined in recent years. This... (More)
This study examines the relationship between the educational levels of Swedish government members and political representation over time. Using quantitative content analysis, data was collected from published CVs of politicians, coded, and analyzed to identify trends in educational attainment from 1969 to 2022. The analysis draws on Pitkin’s theory of representation, Öhberg’s models on political career ambitions, and Folke and Rickne’s concepts of class- and glass ceilings, offering insights into barriers to political advancement. The results reveal a contrasting development: while the proportion of highly educated members of parliament has steadily increased, government members’ educational levels have declined in recent years. This divergence suggests a potential mismatch in representation, raising critical questions about the alignment between political elites and the population they serve. The study further explores how party dynamics and systemic structures shape these trends, highlighting the implications for trust, legitimacy, and governance in democratic systems. By focusing on the role of education in political leadership, this research contributes to ongoing debates about representation and the quality of decision-making in democratic institutions. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Hörnfeldt Strandbrink, Vanja LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVK04 20242
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Keywords: Representation, Education level, Sweden, Members of governments, Career ambitions, Politician
language
Swedish
id
9179356
date added to LUP
2025-03-04 12:55:40
date last changed
2025-03-04 12:55:40
@misc{9179356,
  abstract     = {{This study examines the relationship between the educational levels of Swedish government members and political representation over time. Using quantitative content analysis, data was collected from published CVs of politicians, coded, and analyzed to identify trends in educational attainment from 1969 to 2022. The analysis draws on Pitkin’s theory of representation, Öhberg’s models on political career ambitions, and Folke and Rickne’s concepts of class- and glass ceilings, offering insights into barriers to political advancement. The results reveal a contrasting development: while the proportion of highly educated members of parliament has steadily increased, government members’ educational levels have declined in recent years. This divergence suggests a potential mismatch in representation, raising critical questions about the alignment between political elites and the population they serve. The study further explores how party dynamics and systemic structures shape these trends, highlighting the implications for trust, legitimacy, and governance in democratic systems. By focusing on the role of education in political leadership, this research contributes to ongoing debates about representation and the quality of decision-making in democratic institutions.}},
  author       = {{Hörnfeldt Strandbrink, Vanja}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Meriter, ministrar och misslyckad representation: En studie om utbildningens roll i svensk politik}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}