Göteborgs universitets publikationer - e-publicering och e-arkiv
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CLIMATE UNBOUND Climate Change Securitisation as a Technique of Government for Centralisation
No full textThis study examines how the European Union justifies centralisation through climate change
securitisation. The study analyses three documents: the Joint Communication on the Climate
and Security Nexus, the European Green Deal and A Strategic Compass on Security and
Defence. The documents are analysed with a modified What’s the Problem Represented to Be?
method. The theoretical framework comes from Jef Huysmans, who suggests that by
exceptionally securitising something, it is possible to with bureaucratic discourse achieve goals
that otherwise might have met resistance. Securitisation then becomes a technique of
government for achieving something, such as centralisation. This study suggests that the
European Union does use climate change securitisation as a technique of government in some
instances, such as becoming a disseminator of analysis and intelligence. The technique consists
of framing climate change as an exceptional threat and thereafter proposing neutral, centralising
solutions to counter the threat. The technique was not present in the European Green Deal. This
study suggests that this reflects a focus of using the technique in intergovernmental policy areas,
such as the Common Security and Defence Policy. The study contributes to an understanding
of EU centralisation and how securitisation shapes governance in the European Union
ANDLIGHET OCH TILLFRISKNANDE BLAND TOLVSTEGSPROGRAMMETS ANONYMA NARKOMANER; "Jag tror att Gud är en känsla”
No full textAnonyma Narkomaner och Tolvstegsprogrammet hjälper individer att tillfriskna från
substansbrukssyndrom, SUD, genom ett djupgående förändringsarbete. Medlemmarna följer
ett andligt handlingsprogram med övertygande retorik som möjliggör och stärker individens
tillfrisknande. Den här studien undersöker kopplingen mellan andlighet och tillfrisknande
från SUD. Gemenskap och relationer är centrala komponenter som skapas bland annat med
regelbundet återkommande möten.
Mitt huvudargument är att det individuella uppmuntras under en inkluderande struktur där
andligheten är sekundär och instrumentell.
Studien jämför NA med traditionell religiös healing. Retorik för transformation, symbolism
och gemenskap skapar förutsättningarna för en kontinuerlig process av livsstilsförändring.
Studien har huvudsakligen utförts genom deltagande observation där jag har närvarat på
möten öppna för allmänheten. Materialet bygger även på informella samtal då jag spenderade
tid med medlemmar utanför mötena.
Studien är skriven på svenska
Neural Networks for Complex Systems: From Epidemic Modeling to Swarm Robotics
No full textMachine learning refers to data-driven approaches first introduced from the 1950s, drawing inspiration from developments in neurosciences. An artificial neuron is the smallest computational unit in machine learning. Neural networks are obtained by combining multiple neurons into layers that progressively process input information to determine an output. Neural networks are trained to find complex relationships in large amounts of data, and over the last decades, they have enhanced several fields of research including physics.
In this thesis, I work at the intersection of complex systems and neural networks. In the first part, I focus on applications in which neural networks are a tool for analyzing data generated by complex systems. In Paper I, I employ neural network in agent-based simulations of epidemics. In Paper II, I look at one of the main issues in real-world applications, handling incomplete datasets.
In the second part, I shift to use physical systems to build neural networks. I employ robots to play the role of artificial neurons within a swarm. In Paper III, I introduce physical constraints and use movement to restructure the neural network. In Paper IV, I use a robotic swarm to realize a generative machine learning model that reconstructs light patterns.
These robotic experiments can be seen as an intermediate step between artificial and biological neural networks, still keeping the programmable abilities of the former, but including some of the physical constraints of the latter
FRÅN FEED TILL FÖRÄNDRING. En multimodal analys om Fridays For Future och Greenpeace kommunikation på instagram
No full textExecutive summary
Research shows that current lifestyles are unsustainable and lead to climate change with
severe consequences. The media often portrays climate issues with catastrophic scenarios
which can lead to public disengagement. Environmental organizations play a vital role in
filling the gap left by traditional media by keeping climate issues in focus and engaging the
public. Social media enables these organizations to communicate directly with the public,
offering greater control over their message and the opportunity to reach a diverse audience.
Previous research indicates a need for more studies on how climate organizations use social
media, especially Instagram, given its visual nature and capacity to engage younger
audiences. The purpose of this study is therefore to analyze how environmental organizations
communicate on Instagram. The chosen organizations are Greenpeace and Fridays for Future.
The chosen method and theory for this study is multimodal critical discourse analysis
(MCDA). This is due to its ability to find hidden meanings through analysing how semiotic
resources interact to create purpose. Berglez (2019) key concepts of the methodology is used
to analyse the chosen material from a three month period, 1st of march to 9th of june, before
the European Union election in 2024. The chosen posts from the time period had to follow
certain criterias. The post must be an image – videos and animated elements are excluded.
The posts’ text must be in Swedish or English. The posts must address climate-related topics.
Images that exclusively focused solely on animals, war, or human rights were not included. A
total of 25 images from Greenpeace and 24 from Fridays for Future were identified after
applying the criterias. To avoid redundancy, 13 images from Greenpeace and 10 from Fridays
for Future were selected for in-depth analysis.
Furthermore, the study's theoretical framework incorporates semiotics, which examines how
meaning is created through signs, symbols, and their relationships. Both denotation– the
literal meaning– and connotation, the emotional and cultural associations, are considered in
this framework to deepen the understanding of how visual elements and text work together to
convey messages.
To address the study’s aim, the following research questions were designed. The first
question asked how communicational themes and narratives appear on Greenpeace Sweden
and Fridays for Future Sweden’s Instagram. The second question asked how the
communication strategies of Greenpeace Sweden and Fridays for Future Sweden instagram
are similar or different. The analysis resulted in three main themes: informative, mobilization
and documenting. Both organizations use these themes, but with different approaches.
Greenpeace Sweden’s instagram has a tendency to use an encouraging and emotionally varied
tone, balancing seriousness with hope and frequently incorporating humor to the instagram
posts. They also tend to highlight progress in their posts and use dramatic visuals. Fridays for
Future Sweden frequently use photographs of demonstrations, regardless of the theme. They
often use a critical stance toward authorities and power structures, emphasizing an indignant
tone that highlights a sense of urgency.
Incorporating satire in their posts allows the organizations to make climate issues more
accessible without downplaying their seriousness, helping to reduce disengagement and
increase public involvement. However, Fridays for Future's confrontational tone, may
provoke avoidance in some audiences, yet drives action by holding political and corporate
leaders accountable. This strategy reflects societal power dynamics, where these
organizations challenge decision-makers despite lacking formal power. Additionally, using
Instagram as a platform requires adapting their communication to its norms, which may
explain the inclusion of entertainment, ultimately helping to engage a broader audience.
The differences of the result may be a reflection of the organizational structures. Greenpeace,
with decades of experience and resources, uses a sophisticated approach, while Fridays for
Future’s activism focuses on direct actions. Both organizations' methods play complementary
roles in moving the environmental movement forward by using different approaches to
engage different audiences. Further research on the effects of the communicative themes
would be valuable to understand which climate messages effectively reach and engage the
audience
Spel, vad är det för vara? Undersöker spelande genom inkomstelasticitet
No full textThis study analyses the income elasticity of demand for gambling to classify what kind of good gambling is. A wide range of literature already exists that attempts to estimate income elasticity of demand for various types of gambling. Recently, however, previous studies have been criticised for methodological issues. This study contributes to the existing research by employing a novel method/design and providing updated insights on Swedish consumer behaviour, as no recent research has been done on the topic in Sweden. Using quarterly time series data between 2010 and 2024, we conduct an IV regression, identify gambling as an inferior good, and calculate a negative income elasticity of demand. The negative relationship aligns with previous theories discussing financial hardship and gambling. Therefore, it is plausible that periods of economic downturns and recessions, marked by increased economic uncertainty and typically a drop in disposable income, create a favourable market for gambling industries
AUTHORITARIAN BONDS AND THE RISK OF ECONOMIC COERCION A Quantitative Study on the Uyghur Crisis and Muslim States’ Lack of International Condemnations Against China
No full textMost states, including Muslim majority ones, have not condemned China for its human rights abuses in Xinjiang, despite over one million Uyghurs forced into concentration camps and subjected to involuntary assimilation. Previous research has primarily focused on two theories – economic dependence and Political Regime Affinity (PRA) – to explain the lack of international condemnations. However, they are either qualitative or case-study-based. Thus, there is no study providing a systematic analysis across a dataset to reveal whether these factors are indicative of a broader trend. By using a quantitative method, this study examines the influence of economic dependence through states’ average of import and export with China and Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) participation. Likewise, PRA is measured through V-Dem’s liberal democracy index. Control variables, such as geographic proximity and geopolitical alliances are also included. The findings highlight the importance of economic dependence, with BRI participation and trade dependence reducing the likelihood of condemnation. Likewise, PRA shows that authoritarian states align with China to protect their self-interests; they avoid condemning China in exchange for getting support when they themselves are scrutinized for violating human rights and to protect their political systems. Furthermore, GDP per capita is also a statistically significant factor. The interaction effects between the independent variables and the share of Muslims are not statistically significant, confirming previous research that explains how economic dependence and PRA outweigh religious factors. This thesis confirms that both theories can explain the lack of condemnations against China
MELLAN LIV OCH DÖD: SJUKSKÖTERSKORS UPPLEVELSER AV VÅRD I LIVETS SLUTSKEDE INOM SLUTENVÅRD En litteraturöversikt
Get PDFBakgrund: Palliativ vård syftar till att lindra symtom och förbättra livskvaliteten för
patienter med obotliga sjukdomar. Sjuksköterskor spelar en central roll genom att hantera
medicinska behov och erbjuda psykologiskt, emotionellt samt andligt/existentiellt stöd,
anpassat efter varje individs behov. Arbetet bygger på de fyra hörnstenarna i palliativ vård:
symtomlindring, stöd till närstående, teamarbete och kommunikation. Personcentrerad vård är
en grundläggande del av sjuksköterskans arbete och innebär att vården ska sätta patienten i
centrum. Genom samverkan i team kan olika yrkesgrupper tillsammans säkerställa en
helhetssyn och en sammanhängande vård. Arbetet innebär dessutom känslomässiga
utmaningar för sjuksköterskor. Syfte: Syftet är att undersöka sjuksköterskors upplevelser av
att vårda patienter i livets slutskede inom slutenvård. Metod: Litteraturöversikt av kvalitativ
ansats där elva originalartiklar inkluderades. Data analyserades med hjälp av Fribergs
analysmetod. Resultat: Resultatet som handlar om sjuksköterskans upplevelser av att vårda
patienter i livets slutskede presenteras i form av två huvudteman och sex subteman.
Huvudteman: Sjuksköterskans utmaningar inom vård i livets slutskede och Positiva
upplevelser av sjuksköterskor inom livets slutskede. Subteman: Känslor av maktlöshet och
emotionell stress, problem med kommunikation och samarbete, bristande förutsättningar,
svårt att tillgodose patienternas andliga behov, tillfredsställelse i att hjälpa andra och
kollegialt stöd. Slutsats: Sjuksköterskor inom slutenvården stöter på fler svårigheter än
möjligheter när de vårdar patienter i livets slutskede. Dock upplever de en djup
tillfredsställelse i att kunna ge stöd. För att förbättra både arbetsmiljön och vårdkvaliteten
behövs stärkta stödstrukturer, mer utbildning och ett bättre samarbete inom vårdteamet
Chronic rhinosinusitis - Epidemiological studies on occupational exposure, obesity and sick leave
Get PDFChronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a disease characterised by chronic inflammation of the mucosa lining the nose and paranasal sinuses, with a significant negative impact on patients’ quality of life. CRS affects around 11% of the population of Europe, and currently there is no curative, but only symptomatic, treatment. For the majority of patients, the cause of CRS is unknown. Risk factors include asthma, smoking and allergy, and in recent years occupational exposure has been acknowledged as a contributing cause. However, there is a scarcity of studies on CRS that use the current definition stipulated by the European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps (EPOS) and deal with occupational exposures. The papers appended to this thesis relate to the Telemark population study in the south of Norway. The aim of this thesis was to investigate further the epidemiology of CRS, with the focus on occupational exposures, obesity and sick leave.
Paper I comprises a cross-sectional study in which the prevalence of CRS in the Telemark population was 9% in 2013. Occupational exposure to paper dust, cleaning agents, metal dust, animals, mould/moisture/mildew and physically strenuous work was associated with an increased odds of having CRS.
Paper II describes a prospective study in which occupational exposures to hair-care products, cleaning agents (among women), super glue, strong acids, cooking fumes, and wood dust were associated with an increased odds of new-onset CRS in a 5-year period (2013–2018). The cumulative, 5-year incidence of new-onset CRS in the Telemark population was found to be 5.5%.
Paper III represents a prospective study for the period of 2013–2018 in which the odds of new-onset CRS was found to be 53% higher in obese subjects (BMI≥30) than in subjects with normal weight (18.5≤BMI<25).
Paper IV describes an investigation of the frequency of sick leave among subjects in the previous 12 months, cross-sectionally in 2013 and 2018. Subjects with CRS had around a 60% increased odds of taking sick leave, as compared with subjects without CRS, in both 2013 and 2018. When stratifying for sex in 2013, women with CRS had an almost two-fold higher odds of taking sick leave compared to men with CRS. Sick leave was found to be more common for subjects with CRS than for subjects without CRS in some occupational groups.
The main conclusions from this thesis work are that: 1) occupational exposure is a risk factor for CRS, and particular consideration should be given to cleaning agents, hair-care products, paper dust, metal dust, animals, mould/moisture/mildew, super glue, strong acids, cooking fumes and wood dust; 2) high BMI is a risk factor for CRS and should be taken into consideration when assessing patients with CRS; and 3) subjects with CRS in the Telemark population have a higher frequency of sick leave in the previous year compared to subjects without CRS and, in this context, women appear to be more affected than men
KVINNOR I ACTION: EN KAMP MOT STEREOTYPEN. Framställning av kvinnor i actionfilmer och dess förändring över tid
Get PDFExecutive summary
This study will explore the representation and portrayal of female protagonists' in action
movies between 1990 and 2023. Movies play a significant role in reflecting and contributing to
norms that shape our society, particularly gender norms. Historically, the action genre has been
dominated by male protagonists and directors, commonly portraying men as strong and
independent heroes. In contrast women have been limited to stereotypical roles. Awareness of
gender equality in society has grown with time, however, the action genre has not adapted to
this development at the same pace as society has. This study therefore addresses the following
three research questions:
1. Has the representation of female characters in action movies changed between 1990 and
2023 and if so, how?
2. What role does a director's gender and creative decisions play in shaping these
portrayals?
3. Does the portrayal of female characters differ between 1990 and 2023 in terms of visual
depiction, roles and functions, relationships, and societal context? If so, how?
The analysis adopts two theoretical frameworks. Mulvey’s Male Gaze theory (1975)
emphasises female objectification in media, arguing that their representation is shaped for the
male audience. This is relevant for the action genre since female characters are sexualized
frequently. Representation theory further explores how media reflects and reinforces societal
power structures, emphasizing the importance of analyzing representation in action films.
Together, these theories provide a nuanced understanding for how gender norms in society
influence both the content and creation of action films with regard to gender representation.
When addressing our research questions, a mixed method approach was employed, using both a
quantitative and a qualitative method. The quantitative analysis examined 160 action movies in
total, with 80 movies from 1990 and 80 movies from 2023. This provided an overview of
gender representation among protagonists and directors. To gain a deeper understanding, we
performed a qualitative ethnographic analysis (ECA) of two movies with female protagonists,
Nikita (1990) and To Catch a Killer (2023). Where we focused on visual portrayal, character
roles and functions, relationships with other characters, as well as societal norms.
Our findings reveal that the representation of women barely has developed over the three
decades. The quantitative analysis showcased that 9 percent of the movies analysed in 1990 had
female protagonists. A number that decreased to 7 percent in 2023. Male protagonists
maintained their dominance with 81 percent in 1990 and 78 percent in 2023. Movies with both
male and female protagonists increased from 10 to 15 percent. Regarding directors, the study
noted that there was a scarce amount of women directing within the genre. They directed 2
percent of the movies in 1990 and 1 percent in 2023. Male directors dominated, accounting for
98 percent of the movies in 1990 and 2023. Movies with female protagonists were almost
exclusively made by women, emphasizing the importance of a director’s gender in shaping
narratives.
The qualitative ethnographic analysis, on the other hand, displayed a remarkable contrast
between movies in 1990 and movies in 2023 regarding the portrayal of female characters.
Nikita reflects the norms of the 1990s, where Nikita the protagonist is being sexualized and
dependent on male characters. This is consistent with Mulvey’s (1975) male gaze theory, which
explains how women often are portrayed to cater to male audiences. The portrayal of Nikita
highlights her appearance and relationships, ultimately limiting her independence. In contrast,
To Catch a Killer follows the protagonist, Eleanor, with greater complexity. She is portrayed as
intelligent and independent, navigating her role in a patriarchal workplace. However, even in
the movie from 2023, the female protagonist is dependent on male characters.
The results from our study show that despite the achieved progress in how nuanced the female
characters are being depicted on screen, the action genre is still heavily influenced by
traditional gender norms and structural inequalities. This study concludes that female
protagonist representation has seen limited development over three decades. There is moreover
still a male dominance in front and behind the camera. However, female directors are more
likely to include female characters. While previous studies indicate a growing trend in the
depiction of more nuanced female characters these changes are not reflected in the movie
industry. This limited development reflects deeply ingrained societal norms within the action
movie industry where male directors and actors continue to dominate. Our study highlights the
demand from society for more inclusive storytelling that challenges traditional gender roles
instead of showcasing it. Where the movie industry could play a significant role in challenging
outdated societal structures.
Upon completing this study, several areas can be acknowledged for future research for a more
profound understanding of the topic. Streaming platforms were excluded in this research but
for future research a study investigating streaming platforms, which are now dominating film
consumption and the movie industry. Particularly how streaming platforms influence gender
representation in movies since they, in comparison to companies that produce movies for the
cinema, already have their customers who pay for their monthly subscription in advance.
Therefore streaming platforms can take more risks regarding inclusivity and gender
representation, since they do not have to attract a new audience for their movies.
Our study concludes that there is a persistence of traditional gender norms but also that there is
a potential for change within the action genre. However, we are yet to experience it or see a
change worth acknowleding. The film industry has the tools to dismantle outdated societal
norms and reflect broader inclusivity by not mirroring society but by addressing structural
inequalities. The movie industry should therefore prioritize inclusive storytelling and
underrepresented creators
”MEN HUR UTTRYCKER DU DIG?!” En kvantitativ innehållsanalys av de svenska riksdagspartiernas negativa kampanjretorik i slutdebatter efter Sverigedemokraternas intåg i riksdagen 2010
Get PDFIdag hör man ofta att den politiska debatten fått ”ett högre tonläge”. Våra politiker känns arga, otåliga och splittrade - debatten präglas idag tydligt av en toxicitet. Forskning visar också att polariseringen ökar både i Sverige och runtom i västvärlden. I takt med att radikala populistpartier erhåller fler mandat i parlamentariska hus har forskningen börjat fokusera på det som kallas affektiv polarisering och affektiv elitpolarisering. Polariseringsformen är en känslomässig polarisering som etablerar distans mellan aktörer på känslomässiga grunder istället för ideologiska. Jag vill i denna uppsats försöka reda ut hur kopplingen ser ut mellan radikala populistpartier, affektiv elitpolarisering och ett höjt tonläge i den svenska politiska debatten. Sverigedemokraterna har efter deras intåg i riksdagen 2010 fundamentalt ritat om den svenska politiska kartan. Högerpopulistpartiet har ökat den affektiva elitpolariseringen i riksdagen vilket potentiellt kan förklara den ökade toxiciteten i debatten. Polarisering och negativitet hör ofta ihop vilket gör det relevant att använda negativ kampanjretorik som indikator på huruvida den affektiva elitpolariseringen gör sig synlig i den politiska debatten. Uppsatsen kommer därav, genom en kvantitativ innehållsanalys med manuell kodning, undersöka för huruvida kausalitet råder mellan Sverigedemokraternas intåg i riksdagen 2010 och en förändring i användandet av negativ kampanjretorik hos de svenska riksdagspartierna. Efter att ha studerat slutdebatter inför riksdagsval visar studien att Sverigedemokraternas närvaro haft en delvis inverkan på nivån av negativitet i de svenska riksdagspartiernas kampanjretorik. Negativitetsnivån är idag inte högre än någonsin tidigare men det går, efter att ha studerat trendutvecklingen över tid, att urskilja en viss kausal effekt