Research project The knowledge base of Swedish criminal policy 1853–2024
Is it emotion or knowledge that drives crime policy? This research project will investigate just that. It will also look at whether and how this has changed over time, and provide a historical perspective on current crime policy.
In the planned project, the use of criminal policy knowledge in Sweden will be investigated during the years 1853–2024. The aim is, firstly, to investigate what knowledge our national politicians have claimed when discussing criminal policy issues, if and how this has changed over time and, secondly, to thereby contribute with a historical perspective on current criminal policy. To what extent is political change driven by emotion or reason, by ideology or facts? Is there any basis for the descriptions of a criminal policy development that is increasingly punitive, emotionally driven, populist and politicized? And if it is, is it something unique to our time or something that has also shaped the criminal policy of older times?
Project description
The project will be conducted full-time for three years. It is a historical qualitative document study of a rich written source material, both public print and archive material. A number of criminal policy issues debated in the Swedish Parliament over the past 172 years will be examined, from the youth hooligans of the early 1900s to today’s gang crime and shootings. These studies of political knowledge claims will also form the basis for an analysis of more general characterisations of Swedish criminal policy development. Alongside a scientific contribution to the history of Swedish criminal policy and the discussion on political knowledge use, the project’s results will enable a better understanding between politicians and researchers.
Project members
Project managers
Johan Edman
Professor
