The Swedish approach towards Covid-19 : A qualitative document analysis of the underlying causes of Sweden’s deviating measures towards Covid-19.

Abstract: The aim of the study has been to provide a further understanding to the underlying mechanisms and principles that has shaped the Swedish governmental measures towards the pandemic of Covid-19 in Sweden. Throughout the pandemic of Covid-19, Sweden has been considered as deviating in its national and domestic approach towards the pandemic where Sweden has been pointed out as controversial in its measures that heavily has relied upon trust and common sense of the citizens. Through a qualitative document analysis, the thesis has analyzed the domestic measures taken by the Swedish government between the period of January 2020 and June 2021. The study has used the theoretical lens of constructivism and the empirical departure of the Swedish model as explanatory tools for how the self-image of Sweden derives from a conceptualization of identity provided by the Swedish model. Hence, the study has related to the Swedish model as a tool that shapes the Swedish identity which during the pandemic thus has shaped the identity politics of Sweden by domestic measures as a national response. By using the fundamental pillars of the Swedish model comprising labor market, economic policy and welfare policy, the thesis concluded that the Swedish identity that has shaped the executed identity politics during the pandemic derives from a Swedish self-image of being a welfare state originated from the values of the Swedish model permeating the governing of Sweden. Hence, the mechanisms and principles that have shaped the Swedish behavior through domestic measures during the pandemic of Covid-19 has been the Swedish model along with a Swedish identity and self-image deriving from a self interpretated definition of the Swedish governmental self.