Umeå University's logo

Klimatet beskrivs ofta som en av vår tids stora ödesfrågor med krav på handling. I praktiken innebär klimatomställningar emellertid ofta förhandling och intensivt meningsskapande, där föreställningar om historia, plats, identitet och makt aktiveras. Processernatar sig uttryck i såväl starka känslor som retoriska manövrer. Denna text introducerar temat "Klimatomställningar" och ger en överblick över hur tematiken behandlats i Kulturella Perspektivs utgivning från 1992 till idag. Texten presenterar också de sex vetenskapliga artiklar som ingår i temat.

Produktionen finansieras av Riksbankens Jubileumsfond genom forskningsprojektet ”Det nya framtidslandet? Drivkrafter, utmaningar och möjligheter i relation till norra Sveriges (gröna) industrialisering” [nr M22-0029].

This article utilizes news media representations to scrutinize the symbolic construction and legitimizing support for green megaprojects, with a particular focus on Northvolt’s battery factory in Skellefteå, Sweden. The study reveals that the media portrayed the project as crucial for local development, driven by Northvolt’s explicit competition, Sweden’s national ambition to lead in green technology, and a neoliberal agenda for regional economic growth. These narratives, deeply rooted in ideological fantasies about the implications of such a megaproject for a small, struggling community, effectively suppressed concerns about colonialism, environmental risks, and indigenous rights. The media’s emphasis on perceived benefits overshadowed potential risks, prompting questions about the long-term impact of such projects on local communities and the environment. The article argues that while these investments are framed as opportunities for progress, they may perpetuate historical patterns of exploitation and overlook critical socio-environmental issues.

This article explores the phenomenon of chain letters on Facebook using the example of posts protesting Meta’s use of personal data. The article interprets these chain letters as modern digital protection spells, expressing users’ anxieties about privacy and control over their content. By approaching social media as sites of belief and performance, and by including the concept of algorithmic imaginaries to understand users’ perceptions of the platform’s control mechanisms, the article contributes to the understanding of how traditional cultural practices are transformed in the digital age. The article portrays social media platforms as opaque worlds where users seek protection through sharing chain letters. These act as spells against perceived evils or against the fear of misfortune if the instructions of the chain letter are not followed. The article suggests that both chain letters and response posts illustrate how Facebook is a site where beliefs are negotiated as well as performed.

Essentially all academic research of today relies on analysis of data from a wide range of sources. Several underpinning, and rapidly developing, technologies are supporting the analysis of this data. Visualization serves as an interface to this ecosystem of tools and methods and integrates them into environments supporting scientific workflows, effectively sharing cognitive load between computers and humans. There is, however, a gap between the state-of-the-art in visual data analysis and current wide-spread academic practice. Support for the introduction of new, improved and tailored, visual data analysis environments thus has the potential to address challenges involving large and complex data, creating competitive advantages for researchers. To fill the gap and capitalize on this opportunity, the InfraVis initiative has been created in Sweden with the mission to operate an infrastructure consisting of visualization experts, software solutions, and access to high-end visualization laboratories. Users of InfraVis are offered assistance through a national helpdesk with rapid response times as well as more in-depth projects addressing specific data and software challenges. InfraVis provides software solutions based on development within connected research groups, curation of international software and best practice, and user training in the form of courses, seminars and on-line documentation. To build an infrastructure with national coverage, we have pooled together nine visualization environments in Sweden interconnected in a nodal structure. The nodes are hosted in proximity to research environments in visualization, which enables direct access to the research front as well as to state-of-art facilities. The governance structure of InfraVis is based on the leading researchers in visualization in Sweden as well as an international advisory board.

This research note contains an update of the research program “A promised land? Drivers, challenges and opportunities related to the (green) industrialization of Northern Sweden,” (nr. M22-0029) awarded by the Swedish Riksbankens Jubileumsfond’s in 2022. The document summarizes work in progress and is updated annually in different versions according to the requirements of the program. 

This interdisciplinary program aims to understand the economic, social, and political challenges and opportunities of the ongoing industrial transformation in northern Sweden. A key element of the program is to identify drivers, obstacles, and preconditions in a historical, present, and forward-looking process-perspective. 

Denna rapport handlar om hälsa och livsvillkor bland hbtq-personer över 65 år. Resultaten bygger på kvalitativa intervjuer med 16 deltagare i åldrarna 65–83 år.

Önskan om att få åldras som jag lever nu: Det övergripande resultatet kan sammanfattas i en önskan om att få åldras som man lever nu. Det handlar bland annat om att kunna fortsätta leva ett öppet liv som hbtq-person och att bli bemött med respekt. Det rymmer även förhoppningen att ha kvar hälsan, behålla sitt oberoende, kunna vara social och engagera sig i sina intressen.

God hälsa nära kopplad till livsvillkor: Studiens resultat visar att många deltagare uppger en god hälsa. Samtidigt framkommer att hälsan är tätt sammankopplad med livsvillkor och levnadsförhållanden såsom öppenhet och synlighet, tillgång till sociala sammanhang, socialpolitiska förutsättningar samt hbtq-kompetent vård och omsorg. Deltagarnas berättelser visar på erfarenheter och oro som de delar med äldre personer generellt, men det synliggörs också hur hetero- och cisnormativitet samverkar med ålder och skapar specifika erfarenheter och livsvillkor som kan påverka hälsan både negativt och positivt.

Åldrandet ger både trygghet och rädsla: Åldrandet upplevs generellt som oproblematiskt, i vissa fall också som positivt eftersom det kange en större trygghet. Några deltagare beskriver hur åldrandet inneburit nya eller större möjligheter att leva öppet. Det finns samtidigt en rädsla att som äldre komma att förlora fysiska och psykiska förmågor och därmed bli beroende av andras omsorg. Trots en övervägande god hälsa beskriver deltagarna samtidigt en del krämpor, mindre allvarliga medicinska diagnoser och minskad sexlust. En del beskriver också psykisk ohälsa som en konsekvens av internaliserad homo- och transfobi.

Sociala sammanhang och relationer skyddar mot ensamhet: Sociala sammanhang såsom partner och egna barn, självvald familj, vänner och organiserad hbtq-verksamhet är mycket viktiga för deltagarnas hälsa. Utöver att vara en källa till glädje, social stimulans och praktiskt såväl som emotionellt stöd, upplever deltagarna att goda relationer ökar deras trygghet. Motsatt är oro för ensamhet kopplat till rädsla bland deltagarnaoch ofrivillig ensamhet ökar upplevelser av utsatthet.

Öppenhet är centralt för hälsan: Att vara öppen med sin identitet har stor betydelse för hälsan, inte minst påverkar det deltagarnas självbild. Vidare kan möjligheten att vara öppen även ha betydelse för sociala sammanhang och relationer, samt för hur man föreställer sig framtiden. Möjligheterna att leva öppet har för deltagarna varierat utifrån olika tidsperioder och sammanhang. Den socialpolitiska situationen och samhällsattityder har stor betydelse för deltagarnas upplevda möjligheter till öppenhet. För en del beskrivs öppenheten också som villkorad av närstående.

Beredskap och oro för okunskap i vård och omsorg: Deltagarna har överlag goda erfarenheter av vården och beskriver generellt att de får ett gottbemötande. Trots detta beskriver de olika strategier och en beredskap för att hantera eventuellt dåligt bemötande. Vad som beskrivs som ett dåligt bemötande är oftast relaterat till okunskap om hbtq, eller normativa antaganden bland vårdgivare, snarare än avsedd diskriminering. En del upplever eventuella framtida omsorgsbehov som oproblematiska, medan en majoritet geruttryck för oro. Oron handlar bland annat om att deltagarna är osäkra på om personalen kommer att ha adekvat utbildning om hbtq för att kunna ge ett gott och respektfullt bemötande och tillgodose hbtq-specifika behov.

Socialpolitisk situation påverkar hälsa och livsvillkor: Den socialpolitiska situationen är betydelsefull för deltagarnas hälsa och livsvillkor. Åldersgruppen som ingår i studien har en livstid som spänner över en omvälvande tid i svensk hbtq-historia. Under perioder när hbtq har ansetts avvikande och bemötts negativt har de flesta känt sig begränsade, rädda och utsatta. För vissa har tidigare erfarenheter av våld, hot, diskriminering, osynliggörande och patologisering lett till långvariga negativa konsekvenser förhälsan. I resonemang om den nutida socialpolitiska situationen upplever flera deltagare hbtq-rättighetersom hotade. Vissa anger också att kampen för lika rättigheter ständigt måste pågå.

Identifierade utvecklingsområden: Utifrån studiens resultat och befintlig kunskap har Folkhälsomyndigheten identifierat följande utvecklingsområden:

• Befintlig kunskap om äldre hbtqi-personers hälsa och livsvillkor är begränsad och behöverutvecklas
• Det finns behov av att implementera kunskap om hbtqi i vård- och omsorgsutbildningar från gymnasienivå upp till universitetsnivå.
• Genom integrering av hbtqi-perspektiv i organisationer och äldreförbund skulle förutsättningarna för inkludering av hbtqi-personer i olika sammanhang kunna öka
• Fler organiserade mötesplatser, särskilt bortom storstäderna, skulle kunna skapa bättre sociala förhållanden och ökad trygghet för äldre hbtqi-personer

This report addresses the health and living conditions among LGBTQ people over the age of 65.The results are based upon qualitative interviews with 16 participants aged between 65 and 83.

The desire to age as I live now: The overall content can be summarised as the participants hoping to age in a context similar tothe one they are currently living in. This involves being able to continue living openly as an LGBTQ person and be treated with respect. It also involves the hope of remaining in good health, maintaining independence and being able to socialise and pursue personal interests.

Good health closely linked to living conditions: The results show that many participants report being in good health. At the same time, health appears to be closely linked to living conditions and factors such as openness and visibility, access to social connections, sociopolitical conditions and health and social care that is well-versed in LGBTQ issues. The participants’ accounts demonstrate experiences and concerns they share with older people in general, however they also highlight how both heteronormativity andcisnormativity interact with age and create specific experiences and living conditions that canimpact health both positively and negatively.

Aging provides both security and fear: Aging is generally seen as being unproblematic and in certain cases even positive as it can provide greater security. Some participants describe how aging has led to new or greater opportunities for living openly. At the same time, there is a fear that as an older person, they willlose physical and mental capacity and become dependent on the care of others. Despite generally being in good health, the participants describe a number of ailments, minormedical conditions and lower sex drive. A number also describe mental health problems caused by internalised homophobia and transphobia.

Social connections and relationships protect against loneliness: Social connections, such as their own children and partners, chosen families, friends and organised LGBTQ activities are vital to the participants’ health. The participants believe thatgood relationships increase their security – in addition to providing a source of happiness, social stimulation and practical and emotional support. In contrast, fears of loneliness form asignificant concern among the participants, with involuntary loneliness increasing feelings of vulnerability.

Being open is central to health: Participants being open about their identity is of great importance to their health, especially asthis affects the way participants view themselves. In addition, being able to be open is alsosignificant to social connections and relationships, as well as the way we imagine the future. The ability to live openly varies for the majority of participants, depending on the period and the context. Sociopolitical situations and social attitudes have a major impact on how participants perceive their ability to be open.

Preparedness and concern that health and social care lack knowledge: Generally, the participants’ experiences of the healthcare services are positive, and they describe being treated with respect and understanding. Despite this, they describe various strategies andpreparedness for responding to any negative actions. These negative actions are described aspoor treatment in terms of ignorance towards LGBTQ issues or normative assumptions from healthcare professionals, rather than blatant discrimination. A number are not concerned about any future social care needs, whereas a majority are. Concerns include participants being unsure whether staff will have the necessary knowledge about LGBTQ issues for providing positive and respectful treatment, while meeting the needs specific to LGBTQ people.

Sociopolitical situation affects health and living conditions: The sociopolitical situation is significant to participants’ health and living conditions. The age group included in this study have lived through a revolutionary period in Swedish LGBTQ history. During periods when being LGBTQ was seen as being deviant behaviour and met with negativity, the majority felt restricted, afraid and vulnerable. For some, previous experiences of violence, threats, discrimination, erasure and pathologisation have led to long-term negative health effects. When discussing the current sociopolitical situation, several participants feel that the rights of LGBTQ people are threatened. Some also state that the fight for equal rights must never stop.

Areas for development identified: Based on the results of the study and existing knowledge, the Public Health Agency of Swedenhas identified the following areas for development:

• There is currently limited knowledge about older LGBTQI people’s health and livingconditions, and this needs to be developed.
• There is a need to implement knowledge of LGBTQI issues in health and social care training, from upper secondary education to university level.
• The conditions for LGBTQI inclusion in various contexts can be improved by integrating LGBTQI perspectives into organisations and associations for older people.
• More organised meeting places – especially outside of the major cities – could create better social conditions and increased security for LGBTQI people

This paper introduces principles for the application and challenges of small data ethnography in digital research. It discusses the need to incorporate ethics in every step of the research process. As teachers and researchers within the digital humanities, we argue for the value of a qualitative approach to digital contents, spaces, and phenomena. This article is relevant as a guide for students and researchers whose studies examine digital practices, phenomena, and social communities that occur in, through, or in relation to digital contexts.

This document lays out the background for the research program “A promised land? Drivers, challenges and opportunities related to the (green) industrialization of Northern Sweden,” (nr. M22-0029) awarded by the Swedish Riksbankens Jubileumsfond’s in 2022. The document summarizes work in progress and may therefore be updated and republished in different versions according to the requirements of the program. 

This interdisciplinary program aims to understand the economic, social, and political challenges and opportunities of the ongoing industrial transformation in northern Sweden. A key element of the program is to identify drivers, obstacles, and preconditions in a historical, present, and forward-looking process-perspective.