| 1. |
- Babajan, Tigran, 1986-
(författare)
-
Oligarchs, State Power and Mass Opinion : A Study of the Role of Oligarchs in Post-Soviet Pseudo-democracies
- 2018
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis attempts to understand the role of oligarchs in post-Soviet pseudo-democratic regime trajectories. The two dominant, competing streams of prior work have emphasized either the importance of state power or that of mass opinion in these processes in order to explain why some regimes successfully maintain their grip on power, while others make gradual steps towards democratization. However, the role of oligarchs has been largely overlooked; a gap filled by this study. It employs both widely accepted, as well as unique data to approach the research problem. The work presented in this thesis involves large-N surveys, analyses of media reports and an in-depth case study. There are three key findings:First, for an overwhelming majority of citizens in post-Soviet pseudo-democracies, oligarchs’ actual, negative influence on the political system as well as popular perceptions of unfair wealth concentration are conducive to beliefs that a non-democratic regime is what is needed in order to set things right in their country.Second, the findings from Armenia, Georgia, Russia and Ukraine demonstrate that four politically motivated, rival oligarchs focused on enhancing their reputation and organizational capacity in their struggles for power. In all four countries, regimes used their state power to counter the rival oligarchs. Evidence from Armenia and Russia provides a nuanced understanding of these interactions. In particular, incumbents in these countries used their state power to manipulate public opinion in order to damage the reputation and credibility of the rival oligarchs. This thesis suggests that the main regime leaders do so in order to portray themselves as more trustworthy than their oligarch rivals.Third, a survey analysis of Kyiv university students shows that they view most oligarchs as corrupt and harmful to their political system. According to the survey results, oligarchs’ concentration of wealth appears to disqualify them from being legitimate political players. Yet, further evidence from this thesis suggests that people differentiate between oligarchs as a group and as individuals, which allows at least some oligarchs to enhance their reputation by using their vast material wealth. I conclude this thesis by discussing possible policy and societal implication of the results and by setting out some new venues of future research.
|
|
| 2. |
- Andersson, Staffan, 1969-
(författare)
-
Corruption in Sweden : Exploring Danger Zones and Change.
- 2002
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In this dissertation I study corruption in the public sector in Sweden, a country which the literature regards as having few corruption problems. Sweden is therefore classified as a “least corrupt” case, and such countries are seldom studied in corruption research. My work is thus an effort to fill a gap in the literature. This research is also motivated by a conviction that such a case provides a fertile ground for studying danger zones for corruption. For example, this work allows me to explore how institutional and contextual changes impact on corruption and danger zones. Though the main focus of this work is on Sweden, I also have comparative ambitions. First, I locate Sweden in a cross-national context. I then study corruption in Sweden using a comparative methodology and with an eye to international comparisons. I apply a combined theoretical approach and a multi-method investigation based on several empirical sources and both quantitative and qualitative techniques. This research strategy enables me to capture a phenomenon (corruption) that is more difficult to identify in countries with relatively few obvious corruption scandals than it is in countries in which the phenomenon has traditionally been studied. Regarding danger zones for corruption, the results show that some of the zones identified in the international literature, such as public procurement, are also important in Sweden. For the Swedish case, my empirical research also identifies the types of corruption that occur, perceptions of danger zones and corruption, how corruption changes over time, and how corruption is fought. With regard to the latter, one conclusion is that ingrained (male) sub-cultures can be problematic and may need to be opened up using a combination of measures like promoting a more heterogeneous group of politicians, creating more transparent proceedings in decision groups and conducting more effective audits. The research also highlights the importance of adapting control measures to existing structures of delegation. For example, if delegation arrangements are changed to improve efficiency and cut costs, new accountability measures may be necessary. In general, delegation and control structures should be structured in such a way as to make the cost of shirking quite high. Finally, based on the results of this multi-method investigation, I conclude that one avenue for further corruption research is to connect our knowledge of danger zones to what we know about mechanisms effecting corrupt behaviour, and then to apply this to discussions of new models of the politics of management in multi-level governance.
|
|
| 3. |
- Backman, Jyri, 1968-
(författare)
-
I skuggan av NHL : en organisationsstudie av svensk och finsk elitishockey
- 2012
-
Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- I denna licentiatuppsats har svenska elitseriens respektive finska SM-liigas seriemodeller analyserats i ljuset av NHL:s dominans över den globala ishockeyn. Bakgrunden till problemområdet är att företrädarna för svensk respektive finsk elitishockey implementerat olikartade organisatoriska lösningar, trots att de utvecklats i kontexter med likartade sportmodeller och samhällsvillkor. Metodologiskt bygger denna licentiatuppsats på komparativa studier. Som grund för min analys har jag använt mig av dokumentanalys med inslag av rättsdogmatik. Den teoretiska ramen har utgjorts av historikern Martin Alms amerikaniseringsbegrepp samt juristen och forskaren Lars Halgreens analys om amerikaniseringen av europeisk sport. Följande frågeställningar har analyserats: Hur har elitserien respektive SM-liiga utvecklats i relation till den amerikanska respektive europeiska sportmodellen, sedan 1970-talets mitt? Vilka kännetecken kan fastställas för de respektive organisationsmodellerna? På vilka sätt skiljer respektive liknar de varandra samt vilka förutsättningar för parallellverkan kan urskiljas, dels generellt och dels specifikt i en ishockeykontext? Vilka tendenser och inslag kan skönjas i elitserien respektive SM-liiga av det faktum att ishockeyn genom åren både sportsligt och kommersiellt dominerats av NHL? Min studie visar att ishockeysporten är en spjutspets i amerikaniseringen och kommersialiseringen av nordisk sport samt att ishockeyns kommersialisering och professionalisering i någon form leder till en amerikanisering. Studien visar att företrädarna för den finska elitishockeyn haft stor autonomi präglat av förbundssplitting, vilket har sin förklaring i Finlands 1900-talshistoria. Denna självständighet har utgjort grund för den finska elitishockeyns snabba och häftiga utveckling efter andra världskriget. I jämförelse är Sverige präglat av konsensusorientering med Sveriges Riksidrottsförbund som centraladministration och paraplyorganisation för hela den svenska idrotten, även om Svenska Hockeyligan Ab på senare år fått allt större roll inom svensk ishockey. En slutsats är att Finlands högsta ishockeyserie kan anses vara en hybrid mellan den amerikanska respektive europeiska sportmodellen. Sveriges högsta ishockeyserie är å andra sidan närmare sammanlänkad med den europeiska sportmodellen, även om det finns stora kommersiella intressen inom svensk elitishockey.
|
|
| 4. |
|
|
| 5. |
- Edstedt, Lars, 1981-
(författare)
-
Mellan åtal och dom : Om underlaget och ramarna för rättens bedömning av frågorna om skuld, rubricering och påföljd
- 2024
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Between Indictment and Judgment. On the Basis for and the Limits of the Court’s Assessmentof Questions Concerning Guilt, Legal Qualification and Sentence.This study concerns the relationship between the indictment and the judgment in Swedish criminal procedure. Three central aspects of the criminal judgment are covered: The question of the accused’s guilt (the alleged criminal act in the indictment), the legal qualification of the offence and the sentence. The rule governing this relationship, between indictment and judgment, can be found in Chapter 30 paragraph 3 of the Swedish Code of Judicial Procedure. The requirements on the contents of the indictment are carefully examined, as well as other procedural acts, by the accused and by the court itself through its direction of the proceedings, that can have an effect on the limits of the court’s examination of criminal cases.Two questions of paramount importance are covered in-depth: How detailed must the indictment be (and what are the consequences of vagueness in the indictment)? And how should the principle that the court is bound by the indictment be interpreted? It is argued that a flexible standard for the indictment should be applied, allowing different legal consequences for varying deficiencies. With regard to the court being bound by the indictment, is argued that the theory of literary interpretation of the indictment is flawed, and that the demands of the principle of contradictory proceedings should determine the boundaries of the criminal act in the indictment.The study also contains a comprehensive examination of the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights concerning the right of the accused to be informed of the natureand cause of the accusation, contained in Article 6 § 3 (a) of the European Convention of Human Rights.The material rules of immediate interest are explored against the backdrop of a lengthy investigation into their historical and ideological underpinnings. The history of Swedish criminal procedure is described, as well as various theoretical developments. In particular, the question if Swedish criminal procedure should best be described as inquisitorial or accusatorial/adversarial and questions concerning the function of criminal procedure are investigated.
|
|
| 6. |
- Eriksson, Fredrik
(författare)
-
Det reglerade undantaget : högerns jordbrukspolitik 1904-2004
- 2004
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Agricultural policy and protectionism were major forces behind the foundation of the Swedish Conservative Party (AVF, later Högerpartiet and now Moderata samlingspartiet). Agriculture was seen as a traditional way of life and as such agriculture was deemed important enough to be protected by tariffs. The party also had a strong agrarian phalange in its ranks. The thesis deals with the agricultural policy of the party and its predecessors during the 20th century. The main focus is to explain how the party has dealt with agricultural policy during the period. Due to the reasons mentioned above agricultural policy became a regulated exception of the party. This meant that the party accepted protectionism and other exceptions when it came to agriculture. Things that would not have been accepted in other areas. The main reason for this agricultural exceptionalism was the power of the farmers within the party structure. This, in combination with the Swedish neutrality and preparedness for war, lay behind this view on agriculture . Through neutrality agriculture became a factor in Swedish defense policy and as such ruled by consensus. For the conservatives agriculture and the farmers were seen as an important group within the electorate. Agriculture was also ideologically important through its traditionalism. In combination with strong groups of farmers within the party and the issue of preparedness led to a party policy where agriculture was something particular and an exception from normal policy. The agricultural policy of the party is studied on the ideological level, the internal party level and on the level of non-socialist party cooperation. The party policy during the century showed a remarkable continuity and the party in general defended agriculture from all threats of deregulation up until 1990 when a broad political decision was taken and agriculture was deregulated. The question of Swedish membership in the European Union is also adressed since it meant that agriculture had to be regulated once more.
|
|
| 7. |
- Innala, Eva, 1956-
(författare)
-
Acute intermittent porphyria, women and sex hormones. Screening for hepatocellular carcinoma in porphyria
- 2010
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Porphyrias are inherited disorders with impaired heme biosynthesis. Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is the most common porphyria in Sweden. AIP attacks may be life-threatening. Female sex hormones are regarded as important precipitating factors. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a severe complication in the older AIP population. The aim of the thesis was to describe the clinical expression of AIP in women, experience of hormonal contraception and hormonal replacement therapies (HRT) and of pregnancies. Secondly, we evaluated gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist treatment for prevention of menstrual-cycle-related AIP attacks. Thirdly, we evaluated whether an altered sex-steroid metabolism was present in AIP women compared with controls. Finally, we evaluated the benefit of screening for HCC in AIP in a 15-year follow-up study. Methods and results: In a retrospective population-based study in northern Sweden, 166 female AIP gene carriers ≥18 years of age participated. Manifest AIP (MAIP) was reported in 55%; 82% had severe attacks and 39% had menstrual-cycle-related attacks. Hormonal contraceptives were used by 94, and 12 reported that this precipitated AIP attacks. HRT and local vaginal treatments in menopause did not precipitate AIP attacks. Only 10% reported impairment of AIP symptoms during pregnancy. In the retrospective follow-up study of GnRH-agonist treatment, 11 of 14 women improved during treatment. Porphyria attacks were triggered in two women after estradiol add-back and in 5 of 9 women after progesterone add-back. In the sex-steroid metabolism study, levels of s-progesterone, estradiol, allopregnanolone and pregnanolone during the menstrual cycle in 32 AIP gene carriers were compared with 20 healthy controls. Progesterone metabolism in the AIP group differed from controls. In the AIP group levels of allopregnanolone, but not pregnanolone, were significantly lower. In the prospective HCC screening study AIP gene carriers aged >55 years were included. On average 62 subjects participated during 15 years. HCC was diagnosed in 22 of 180 eligible AIP gene carriers in the region (male:female, 12:10, 73% MAIP). The annual incidence of HCC was 0.8%. The risk of HCC was 64-fold higher than in the general population over 50 years of age in this region, and even higher for AIP women (93-fold). Increased 3- and 5-year survival was seen in the regularly screened AIP group. Liver lab tests were not useful in HCC screening. Conclusion: The clinical expression of AIP in women is pronounced and menstrual-cycle-related attacks are common. Hormonal contraceptives can induce AIP attacks and caution is recommended. GnRH-agonist treatment can ameliorate menstrual-cycle-related attacks of porphyria. Dose findings for GnRH-agonists and add-back regimes, especially for progesterone, are intricate. Progesterone metabolism in the AIP group differs from that in healthy controls. HCC screening in AIP gene carriers >50 years of age enables early diagnosis and a possibility for curative treatments. Annual HCC screening with liver imaging is recommended in AIP gene carriers >50 years of age.
|
|
| 8. |
- Norrby, Göran, 1943-
(författare)
-
Adel i förvandling : Adliga strategier och identiteter i 1800-talets borgerliga samhälle
- 2005
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This study examines how well the Swedish nobility succeeded in adapting to the structural changes in society and state during the 19th century.Three major issues are investigated. 1) To what extent, and in which respects, did noble families manage to socially reproduce their dominant positions in society? 2) Which strategies did they make use of? 3) How was their social identity affected? Three separate approaches have been combined for the purpose of analysing these issues: a statistical analysis of the behaviour of the titled nobility (8 000 persons born between 1770 and 1939) regarding marriage, education and professions; a collective biography analysis; and a comparison with the nobility in other countries.The titled nobility possessed a substantial amount of economic, symbolic and social capital – and a market existed for the conversion of this noble capital, enabling a reconversion to new social formations and into expanding professions. Noblemen married into the top strata of the bourgeoisie, were quick to adapt to the increasing demand for formal exams and education certificates, and went step by step over to occupations in the expanding business sector. When power bases shifted, the nobility adapted; as democratic reforms destroyed their political power base, the nobility shifted to the economic power base. Thus the Swedish nobility may be considered as succesful in their social reproduction strategies.Though their social identity clearly was subjected to change, noble families preserved a sense of difference, and of superiority and dominance, through the whole of the 19th century.
|
|
