Neoliberalism And The Swedish Model : A Critical Discourse Analysis of Crises facing the Swedish Rental Housing Market

Abstract: This study utilises Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to examine media discourses on rent increases in the Swedish rental housing market and their reflection of crises within neoliberal regimes. Proceeding from newspaper articles from Dagens Nyheter, the largest newspaper in Sweden, two separate time periods are analysed, with one functioning as a control group. The analysis implements three levels of CDA: text, discursive practice, and social practice.The findings illuminate the complex nature of rent increases, with different perspectives from tenants, landlords, and policymakers. Power imbalances are evident, providing certain actors with more legitimacy and influence. The analysis confirms the influence of neoliberal forces in the Swedish rental market, reflected in language, values, and individual representation. Three of philosopher Michael Brie's identified crises— overaccumulation, integration, and representative democracy—are evident in the discourses on rent increases, with varying positions over time. The crisis of overaccumulation is more evident in the second period, potentially influenced by global economic conditions, while the crises of integration and democracy are consistent in their evidence. This analysis shines light on the interaction between discourses, ideology, and power dynamics, providing insights into the challenges posed by the process of neoliberalization.