I am an Associate Professor of Political Science and Head of the Political Science subject area at Dalarna University. My research broadly concerns the conditions and development of democracy, with a particular focus on young people’s political participation and how citizens are shaped into active members of society. I am also interested in the role of civil society in and for democracy, interpersonal attitudes, and the system of governmental committees and consultations in Sweden.
A recurring theme in my research is how individuals participate in and influence democratic life – both through political institutions and through civil society organizations. I am especially interested in how engagement and trust are formed during adolescence and how these experiences shape democratic participation later in life.
Collaboration with the surrounding society is a central part of my work, and I actively engage in partnerships where academic insights can contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable democratic development. Alongside my academic career, I have worked in several government inquiries and public agencies, providing me with broad experience of public administration and policymaking.
Throughout my career, I have taught political science at all academic levels and developed diverse courses, primarily focusing on civil society, political participation, public administration, political culture, and social science methods. I have also supervised numerous talented students at both bachelor's and master's levels, resulting in engaging research essays.
In my current research, funded by the Swedish Research Council, I collaborate with Ali Abdelzadeh and Jennifer Fitzgerald to examine how experiences during adolescence influence political participation in adulthood. By following up on one of the world’s most extensive longitudinal studies on youth political socialization, we seek to identify the factors that strengthen or weaken young people’s motivation to participate in society, and thereby the mechanisms that foster sustainable democratic engagement.
Another central line of research focuses on the democratic contributions of civil society. I have studied how young people’s involvement in civil society organizations affects the development of social trust, tolerance, and democratic attitudes, as well as how local organizations respond to the presence of violent extremism. This research highlights civil society’s dual role, both as a democratic learning environment and as an actor that actively defends democratic values when they are challenged.
I also work on issues related to voluntary work and its transformation in Swedish society. Through large-scale population surveys, my colleagues and I analyze how voluntary engagement has evolved over time, which social and economic factors shape people’s willingness to contribute, and how voluntary work interacts with the institutions of the welfare state. This research contributes to understanding the extent to and how civic engagement is reshaped in the transition from the traditional movement-based society to more individualized forms of participation.
In addition, I study the relationship between civil society and public administration, with a particular focus on how interest organizations participate in governmental committees and influence policy processes.
Taken together, my research seeks to deepen our understanding of democracy not merely as a set of institutions, but as something continuously recreated through people’s engagement, participation, and collaboration across different spheres of society.
Interest organizations' participation in governmental committees
Can participation in mock elections strengthen students civic engagement?
MEIS - a research program on civic engagement
Guardians of Democracy? On the Response of Civil Society Organisations to Right-Wing Extremism