Research project Alternative Paths to the Welfare City: Public Services, Inclusion and the Common Good
During the period of 1870–1920, Nordic cities took ever greater responsibility for services that were perceived vital for economic development and the citizens’ wellbeing. What discussions and motivations preceded this development? How did the cities’ governing bodies set out to expand the scope of public services?
The aim of the project is to identify the motivation for this development by studying the political language, arguments and motives.
The project presents a new approach to the development of welfare cities in the Nordic countries, c. 1870–1920. The purpose is to analyse and compare political debates about the organisation of public services in Stockholm, Copenhagen, Kristiania/Oslo and Helsinki. The aim of the project is to identify the motivation for this development by studying the political language, arguments and motives.
The project investigates discussions in the municipal political arenas and analyse how governing bodies set out to expand the scope of public services. The empirical studies cover both infrastructure and social services By examining both policy areas, the project cover the economic research on infrastructure as well as historical research on welfare services. Thus, providing a more complete picture of how practical policies was linked to perceptions about social inclusion and the common good.
Today, the concept of welfare cities is widely discussed; how cities and urban communities may lead the way in reforming social and environmental policy when national governments fail. This means fighting segregation and economic inequality, as well as promoting sustainable urban environment. The project “Different paths to the welfare city” will make an important contribution to this discussion.
Project members
Project managers
Magnus Linnarsson
Universitetslektor
Members
Mats Hallenberg
Professor
