Are Megaprojects Doomed to Fail?: A Case Study of Sverigeförhandlingen
2026 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 20 credits / 30 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
This thesis examines the implementation problems of the National Negotiation on Housing and Infrastructure, known as Sverigeförhandlingen, and why the project was not implemented as was originally intended. The study uses a qualitative single-case design and document analysis to examine the governance process between 2014 and 2025. Five theoretically derived analytical characteristics structures the empirical analysis: inadequate economic models, conflicts between stakeholders, external influence, unrealistic scheduling and political failure. The findings show that problems within all five characteristics were present in the case, but their importance is mainly in how they interacted and reinforced each other. Many of the problems were connected to decisions made during the initial design of the project. Together path dependency, policy network theory and implementation research help explain how early political commitments, relationships between actors and implementation conditions contributed to the project’s problems. Based on these findings, the thesis presents recommendations concerning analytical requirements, realistic scheduling and resources, stakeholder coordination and continuity in the objectives and governance of future Swedish megaprojects.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2026. , p. 68
Keywords [en]
The National Negotiation on Housing and Infrastructure, Sverigeförhandlingen, megaprojects, failure, policy analysis, Implementation, infrastructure governance, stakeholders, housing, high-speed rail, Sweden, governance
National Category
Political Science (Excluding Peace and Conflict Studies)
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-259347OAI: oai:DiVA.org:umu-259347DiVA, id: diva2:2106842
Educational program
Master's Programme in Political Science
2026-10-012026-10-012026-10-01Bibliographically approved