How the Swedish innovation policy portrays and treats globalization

Globalization is a diffuse term, which is why it’s interpreted very differently. The purpose of this study is therefore to examine how the Swedish innovation policy portrays globalization and what consequences this imposes. How countries’ politics are run depends on their views on globalization. This study involves an ideal type analysis. The chosen ideal types represent three different perspectives on globalization. The three ideal types I have chosen are the neo-liberals, the reformists and the dissidents. In order to answer this study’s questions, I’ve chosen three documents to analyze. These documents concern the governments’ current view on growth strategies since innovation constitutes an important part. Innovation has now become Sweden’s response to globalization. The three chosen documents are: Den nationella innovationsstrategin (2012), En nationell strateg strategi för regional tillväxt och attraktionskraft 2014-2020 samt Svenska framtidsutmaningar – slutrapport från regeringens framtidskommission (2013). The conclusions of this study suggest that the Swedish innovation policy portrays globalization from a neo-liberalism perspective. This means that Sweden has a very positive view on globalization. The Swedish government sees great opportunities in this matter since globalization is something they want to invest in. By supporting innovation, education, attractive environments that allow companies to establish themselves and collaboration on both a local and a global scale, the Swedish government suggests that Sweden is prepared to confront the future challenges they are facing