“Sweden Has Been Naïve”: Nationalism, Protectionism and Securitisation in Response to the Refugee Crisis of 2015

Fake news, disinformation campaigns, xenophobia, political resentment, and a general backlash on equality issues mark the current political climate. In this context, the idealism of the Swedish welfare state has gained a specific symbolic value. This article investigates how the idealisation of Sweden as a modern and gender-equal country was articulated as a focal point in the establishment of threat and crisis narratives in the political debate of the refugee crisis of 2015. The article shows how progressive and egalitarian ideals were viewed as outdated and naïve, but at the same time put forward as core values worthy of protection. The title refers to the statement made by the Swedish Prime Minister in 2015 stating that “Sweden has been naïve” and serves as an example of how the myth of Sweden as an exceptionally modern, secular, and equal society was evoked in processes of securitisation, nationalistic protectionism, and normalisation of xenophobia. The article concludes that the articulation of Swedish exceptionalism in the establishment of threat and crisis narratives may reproduce and enhance social inequality and polarisation

Molecular correlates and prognostic significance of SATB1 expression in colorectal cancer

Background: Special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 1 (SATB1) is a global gene regulator that has been reported to confer malignant behavior and associate with poor prognosis in several cancer forms. SATB1 expression has been demonstrated to correlate with unfavourable tumour characteristics in rectal cancer, but its association with clinical outcome in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. In this study, we examined the prognostic impact of SATB1 expression in CRC, and its association with important molecular characteristics; i.e. beta-catenin overexpression, microsatellite instability (MSI) screening status, and SATB2 expression. Methods: Immunohistochemical expression of SATB1 and beta-catenin was assessed in tissue microarrays with tumours from 529 incident CRC cases in the prospective population-based Malmo Diet and Cancer Study, previously analysed for SATB2 expression and MSI screening status. Spearman's Rho and Chi-Square tests were used to explore correlations between SATB1 expression, clinicopathological and investigative parameters. Kaplan Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards modelling were used to explore the impact of SATB1 expression on cancer specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS). Results: SATB1 was expressed in 222 (42%) CRC cases and negative, or sparsely expressed, in adjacent colorectal mucosa (n = 16). SATB1 expression was significantly associated with microsatellite stable tumours (p < 0.001), beta-catenin overexpression (p < 0.001) and SATB2 expression (p < 0.001). While not prognostic in the full cohort, SATB1 expression was significantly associated with poor prognosis in SATB2 negative tumours (HR = 2.63; 95% CI 1.46-4.71; p(interaction) = 0.011 for CSS and HR = 2.31; 95% CI 1.32-4.04; p(interaction) = 0.015 for OS), remaining significant in multivariable analysis. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that SATB1 expression in CRC is significantly associated with beta-catenin overexpression, microsatellite stability and SATB2 expression. Furthermore, SATB1 expression is a factor of poor prognosis in SATB2 negative tumours. Altogether, these data indicate an important role for SATB1 in colorectal carcinogenesis and suggest prognostically antagonistic effects of SATB1 and SATB2. The mechanistic basis for these observations warrants further study

Influence of Ocean Acidification on a Natural Winter-to-Summer Plankton Succession : First Insights from a Long-Term Mesocosm Study Draw Attention to Periods of Low Nutrient Concentrations

Every year, the oceans absorb about 30% of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) leading to a re-equilibration of the marine carbonate system and decreasing seawater pH. Today, there is increasing awareness that these changes-summarized by the term ocean acidification (OA)-could differentially affect the competitive ability of marine organisms, thereby provoking a restructuring of marine ecosystems and biogeochemical element cycles. In winter 2013, we deployed ten pelagic mesocosms in the Gullmar Fjord at the Swedish west coast in order to study the effect of OA on plankton ecology and biogeochemistry under close to natural conditions. Five of the ten mesocosms were left unperturbed and served as controls (similar to 380 mu atm pCO(2)), whereas the others were enriched with CO2-saturated water to simulate realistic end-of-the-century carbonate chemistry conditions (mu 760 mu atm pCO(2)). We ran the experiment for 113 days which allowed us to study the influence of high CO2 on an entire winter-to-summer plankton succession and to investigate the potential of some plankton organisms for evolutionary adaptation to OA in their natural environment. This paper is the first in a PLOS collection and provides a detailed overview on the experimental design, important events, and the key complexities of such a "long-term mesocosm" approach. Furthermore, we analyzed whether simulated end-of-the-century carbonate chemistry conditions could lead to a significant restructuring of the plankton community in the course of the succession. At the level of detail analyzed in this overview paper we found that CO2-induced differences in plankton community composition were non-detectable during most of the succession except for a period where a phytoplankton bloom was fueled by remineralized nutrients. These results indicate: (1) Long-term studies with pelagic ecosystems are necessary to uncover OA-sensitive stages of succession. (2) Plankton communities fueled by regenerated nutrients may be more responsive to changing carbonate chemistry than those having access to high inorganic nutrient concentrations and may deserve particular attention in future studies.Peer reviewe

Nära inpå: Maskulinitet, intimitet och gemenskap i brandmäns arbetslag

This study explores the profession of firefighter, in which the progression of gender equality has been particularly slow compared to many other professions in Sweden. The aim of the study is to explore constructions of masculinity in the firefighter profession and how they are related to specific forms of community among men in this profession. The starting point of the thesis is that one of the central mechanisms of gender segregation is male homosociality, which is men’s search for community with other men. Based on field notes and recorded interviews the study explores how affectionate and intimate relations between men are supported and upheld in this occupation. The analysis is presented in three parts that explore different aspects of firefighters’ life in the work teams. The first section explores that firefighters’ put value on spatial and temporal settings that demanded that they lived family life at work. They thought that if women were included in the work teams it would become more difficult to share that kind of intimacy. The second section focuses on the joking manner and jargon among firefighters. Being able to respond to brutal jokes and raw jargon confirmed their sense of being close, which was not thought to be able to uphold if women were included in the work teams. The third section focuses on how firefighters relate to the fact that their work is associated with notions of masculinity. It is argued that their ability to both support and criticise their profession’s association with masculine stereotypes enforced these men’s commitment to each other in the teams. The main contribution of the thesis to a deeper understanding of how men’s hegemony is maintained within this profession is exploring how the notion of homosociality and intimacy between men relates to the concept of masculinity. The thesis concludes that the concept of homosociality makes it possible to highlight other forms of inclusion and exclusion mechanisms than does the concept of hegemonic masculinity. The concept of masculinity emphasises the conflicts and hierarchies between men. The concept of homosociality however emphasises belonging and loyalty among men. It can be used to explore how gender is constructed, through the expectation that homosocial relationships would make possible an exclusive intimacy. That homosociality is valued as a guarantee for exclusive intimacy seems especially important in this profession, where this exclusive intimacy provides men with a sense of belonging and confirmation of having what it takes to be a real firefighter

Krisberedskapspusslet : Meningsskapande och strategier i arbetet med risk- och sårbarhetsanalyser

En esta sección se encuentran discriminadas las siguientes estadísticas:4.1.      Producción4.1.1.   Oro, plata, sal; producción y exportación de hidrocarburos y derivados del petróleo4.2.      Otras producciones4.2.1.   Petróleo, gasolina, cemento, azúcar y electricidad4.2.2.   Producción de Acerías Paz del Río y de la Planta Colombiana de Soda4.3.      Comercio exterior4.3.1.   Exportaciones de algunos artículos por países de venta de enero a febrero de 19614.3.2.   Importación y exportación por países de compra y venta de enero a febrero de 1961, y balanza comercial de valores en el mismo periodo4.3.3.   Comercio de Colombia con los Estados Unidos: 1956-196

Samverkan för hållbar stadsutveckling och tvärsektoriell samsyn

Hur kan vi komma tillrätta med oroligheter i form av skadegörelse och anlagda bränder? Följande forskningsrapport – som är den tjugosjunde i serien Vetenskap för profession – söker svar på denna fråga genom att undersöka samverkan i en kommun.Bakgrunden till rapporten är att företrädare för Södra Älvsborgs Räddningstjänst (SÄRF) tog kontakt med Högskolan i Borås för att utvärdera och bidra till arbetet med sociala risker inom Borås stad. SÄRF hade, i likhet med andra räddningstjänster, uppmärksammat att antalet anlagda bränder ökat och att förövarna ofta var ungdomar. Man såg också samband mellan orolig skolmiljö, mobbning,skadegörelse och anlagda bränder. Ny kunskap samt en hög grad av samverkan med andra aktörer i kommunen efterfrågades.Rapportens problemställning är riktad mot möjligheten till samsyn mellan olika samverkande parter och utgår från följande frågeställningar: Hur beskriver praktiker inom olika verksamheter problemen? Vilka metoder finns för att förebygga, hantera och förhindra dessa? Vilka utvecklings- och forskningsbehov finns? Samverkan har studerats mellan räddningstjänst, polis, individ och familjeomsorg, barn- och ungdomspsykiatrin, ungdomssamordnare,brottsförebyggande råd, specialpedagogiskt centrum, folkhälsa, stadsplanering samt åklagare

"Stuprör" och "öppna kanaler" : Metaforer i talet om och för samverkan

Artikeln problematiserar betydelsen av metaforer i samtal om tvärsektoriell samverkan inom offentlig verksamhet. Samtalens syfte var att förhindra att ungdomar anlägger bränder och annan typ av skadegörelse. Vi använder oss av metaforisk textanalys. Resultatet visar att metaforer har olika funktion i parternas samtal. De har en förklarande eller översättande funktion och innebär då en resurs. Men de har även en kamouflerande funktion, vilket innebär att användandet av metaforer inte är helt oproblematiskt

"I feel like I am not disabled anymore" : A qualitative interview study about sign language speaking deaf and hearing impaired individuals experiences with smartphones

This c-level essay examines how deaf and hearing impaired individuals use smartphones to live and communicate in a “hearing world”. The main target is to find some understanding of the struggles of this population and smartphones have made it easier to adapt to the hearing worlds’ demands with the applications that follow. To acquire the information for this essay, representatives from both the deaf and hearing impaired communities were interviewed. The findings of this qualitative study show that there are many applications that have advantages to aid the lives of deaf and hearing impaired. These include WhatsApp, Tango and many others. All of the respondents appreciated the new technology but also said that there is work to be done in that area. Especially the poor quality of the video calls is not satisfactory to the users using sign language

If I tell you I will have to kill you : secrecy in public administration in a time of securitization and militarization

Critical security studies examine how everyday life is affected or transformed by practices that militarise civil society. This article addresses one such area: qualitative changes in the openness and transparency of public administration, instating a mode of suspicion and secrecy. The article is based on interviews and observations in the area of the total defence in Sweden, where we during three years encountered challenges in gaining access to authorities that initially welcomed participation of researchers, but progressively became inaccessible. We use these experiences to reflect on both methodological issues and wider implications for the securitisation of civil society. The article concludes that difficulties in gaining access to the field may itself serve as valuable data in understanding the changing condition of public administration in a time of militarisation