Policy Press

The Swedish Experiment

The COVID-19 Response and its Controversies

By Yohann Aucante

Published

Jun 29, 2022

Page count

184 pages

ISBN

978-1529223873

Dimensions

203 x 127 mm

Imprint

Bristol University Press

Published

Jun 29, 2022

Page count

184 pages

ISBN

978-1529223880

Dimensions

203 x 127 mm

Imprint

Bristol University Press

Published

Jun 29, 2022

Page count

184 pages

ISBN

978-1529223880

Dimensions

203 x 127 mm

Imprint

Bristol University Press
The Swedish Experiment

With Sweden traditionally hailed as a social and economic model, it is no wonder that the Swedish response to the COVID-19 pandemic raised a lot of questions – and eyebrows – around the world. This short book explores Sweden’s unique response to the global pandemic and the strong wave of controversies it triggered.

It helps to make sense of the response by defining ‘a Swedish model’ that incorporates the country’s value system, underpinning its politics and administration in relation to, among other things, welfare, democracy, civil liberties and respect for expertise. The book also acts as a case study for understanding the moral and normative ways in which different national approaches to the pandemic have been compared.

“This is a thorough, insightful and topical reflection on a fascinating instance of policy exceptionalism. It is bound to become a standard work in the study of Sweden’s idiosyncratic response to the pandemic.” Nicholas Aylott, Södertörn University

“This is a highly interesting study, which in a very nuanced way provides an analysis of the Swedish COVID-19 approach. It is thorough in that it covers both the development over time as regards actions by politicians and the various administrative agencies, while at the same time pinpointing essential elements of continuity. Moreover, it offers several comparative analyses as well. As a whole this, is an impressive piece of academic work.” Jonas Hinnfors, University of Gothenburg and University of Stirling

Yohann Aucante is a Research Lecturer in the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences in Paris (EHESS), affiliated with the Raymond Aron Centre for Sociological and Political Studies (CESPRA).

Introduction

1. The Uses of National Models

2. The First Wave

3. Comparing Nations in a World Crisis

4. Riding the Waves: Reckoning and Strategic Adjustments

5. Recasting the Swedish Model in Crisis Mode

Conclusion