"A Norrland before, and a Norrland after?" : Exploring re-industrialization, as an example of green growth, through the reproduction of space and planetary urbanization in Northern Sweden.

Abstract: The dominant discourse often presents green growth as a solution to the ongoing environmental and climate crisis. However, it exists an unclear understanding of what green growth means in various contexts. This thesis aims to explore re-industrialization in Northern Sweden as an example of green growth, focusing on understanding the meaning and spatial implications of green growth within the context of Norrland. Tworesearch questions are put forward to study the framing of the re-industrialization and how it reproduces Norrland as space and place. 68 Swedish media articles from 2010 to 2023 covering different geographical scales were selected and processed with a qualitative content analysis method, using framing theory. The results show that reindustrialization in Norrland is framed in plural ways, emphasizing growth and development opportunities as well as concerns for Indigenous rights, human well-being, and justice. The dominant framing reinforces Norrland´s subordination to growth centers, while alternative framings highlight a broader understanding of the region’s multifaceted dimensions, raising questions about equitable distribution and the spatial power dynamics of green growth, moving the discussion away from urban-rural dichotomies. The study contributes to an understanding of the spatial implications of green growth in Norrland, challenging rural-urban dichotomies and highlighting contested values.