Projects
The research group on power, politics and governing is, and has been, involved in several research projects financed by The Swedish Research Council, The Wallenberg Foundation, Riksbankens Jubileumsfond (RJ), Formas and several other funders. Currently, we are mainly involved in the following projects:
The technocapitalist (in)security paradox – Systemic risk in a time of global crises and geo-political (re)ordering. The project will analyse the challenges that public institutions face when they rely on large digital infrastructures provided by global big tech corporations while at the same time trying to minimize cyber threats and civil as well as military vulnerabilities. The aim of the project is to analyse the effects of the tech-capitalist (in)security paradox for the democratic resilience of the Swedish welfare state. To take on this aim, we will focus on how the paradox is played out in the relations between policy and practice through two key rationalities of the welfare state representing the two sides of the paradox: competition and security.
Mainstreaming preparedness – Planning for preparedness in policy and practice. As the world changes, society’s preparedness has become a new focus, turning into an integrated responsibility for the entire public sector at all levels. This project will examine what happens when national policy is implemented locally, examining the implications for local governments and their responsibility for citizens’ welfare. Drawing on gender mainstreaming research, and through using the concept of “preparedness mainstreaming” our ambition is to understand and critically analyse how preparedness is given meaning in local practice. This project aims to analyze and problematize preparedness planning by examining how municipalities address these demands amidst thematic crowding with other policy goals like gender equality, health, sustainability, and digitalization.
Research Cluster – The AI Welfare State. The research focus of the cluster addresses the vulnerabilities that emerge with the introduction of artificial intelligence into our welfare systems for better service and control. As AI technologies become increasingly embedded in public services, new potential harms materialize that imperil both the technology and the individuals affected by these systems. This cluster is multidiplicaplinary in collaboration between five universities, funded by The Wallenberg Foundations through WASP-HS.
https://www.kau.se/statsvetenskap/forskningsprojekt/research-cluster-ai-welfare-state
https://portal.research.lu.se/en/projects/the-ai-welfare-state
A promised land? Drivers, challenges and opportunities related to the (green) industrialization of Northern Sweden. This research program aims to use an interdisciplinary approach to understand the ongoing industrial transformation in northern Sweden.
https://www.umu.se/en/research/projects/a-promised-land/
The politics of automated systems of governing: Implications of public administration and Gender Equality. This project aims to make an in-depth critical policy analysis of the organization and practice of the politics of digitalization, in particular automated systems of governing (ASG). The purpose of the project is to move the analysis beyond the common practice to primarily treat digitalization, and particularly ASG, as a technical issue and instead explicitly analyze how they are governed and organized as part of public administration.
recently finished projects
AI, Democracy and Self-determination. This project revolves around studying the impact of AI systems on self-determination and on democratic processes and values. The role of the research group on power, politics and governing is to critically analyse the models that are currently used to involved ethical principles and social values in designing AI-systems.
https://www.kau.se/statsvetenskap/forskningsprojekt/ai-democracy-and-self-determination
https://www.umu.se/en/research/projects/ai-democracy-and-self-determination/
Separatist Spaces/Safe Spaces. This project explores the increased use of separatism as a practice for creating safety. The aim is to grasp the different forms of spaces that are discussed, produced and challenged as women’s movements call for separatism.
https://www.kau.se/statsvetenskap/forskningsprojekt/separatistiska-rum-trygghet
https://www.umu.se/en/research/projects/separatist-spaces-safe-space/