Abstract

Notwithstanding its many successes since 1945, the project of European integration currently faces major difficulties, from financial crises and mass immigration to the impending departure of the UK from the European Union. At the same time, these challenges have spurred civil society organizations within and across Europe, revealing a shared public sphere in which citizens can mobilize around refugee rights, opposition to austerity policies, and other issues. Europeanization in Sweden assembles new empirical research on how these processes have played out in one of the continent’s wealthiest nations, providing insights into whether, and how, the “Swedish model” can guide European integration.

Roberto Scaramuzzino is researcher at Lund University, Sweden. His research interests include changes in the welfare and integration systems and the role of civil society organizations in different countries. He has been engaged in comparative studies of mobilization in the migration and prostitution policy fields in Sweden, and Italy, and at the EU-level. He is currently working in a research program on civil society elites in Europe.

“Europeanization in Sweden is a solid piece of work that is a worthy contribution to the field. This book is essential for anyone studying civil society in the EU or Sweden.” • Jean L. Cohen, Columbia University

“This volume offers significant findings on Swedish civil society in the European context, and makes thus a relevant contribution to our understanding of the role of civil society in the EU more broadly.” • Eva G. Heidbreder, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg

Anna Meeuwisse is professor of social work at Lund University, Sweden. One of her research areas concerns the changing roles of civil society organizations in the welfare state. She has been engaged in several research projects regarding civil society, advocacy, and transnational social movements in the health- and welfare area.