Equality or growth? An ideology analysis of the Swedish national cultural policy

This Bachelor’s thesis examines and describes the governmental cultural policy in Sweden. The relation between the state and the market in society is in focus. Earlier research is used to describe the development of cultural policy in Sweden after the world war two until today. Two governmental bills are examined and described, one from 1974 and one from 2009. The main issues are: What ideological content can be seen in the two bills? What ideological content can be seen in relation to the market? What points of ideological similarity and difference appear in a comparison between the two bills? In general the conclusions from the analysis are that cultural policy in 1974 is formed around the word equality. The ideology in 2009 years bill is formulated in words of growth. In the comparison different patterns can be seen. An ideological development is clear that shows that neo-liberal market-related ideology is present 2009 but not in the bill from 1974. The method used in the Bachelor’s thesis is textual ideology analysis. A method/theory about ideology analysis created by the Swedish professor in history of ideas, Sven- Eric Liedman is used.Program: Bibliotekari