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REPRESENTATIONS OF A “PROBLEMATIC” REGION

Explore how the region of Norrland in Sweden is portrayed in media, addressing stereotypes, identity construction, and cultural differences. The study delves into the complexities of regional identities and challenges popular narratives through critical analysis.

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REPRESENTATIONS OF A “PROBLEMATIC” REGION

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  1. REPRESENTATIONS OF A “PROBLEMATIC”REGION - The Construction of National and Regional identities Madeleine Eriksson PhD student Umeå University Sweden

  2. THE SWEDISH SELF-IMAGENon-nationalistic Equal Modern Institutional/Cultural racism = Internal spatial others Socio- economic differences

  3. THE AREA OF STUDY - NORRLAND NORRLAND Area: 60% of Sweden Population: 1,2 million MUNICIPALITIES COUNTIES Source: Statistic Sweden 2005

  4. THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT(Re)presentations of Norrland • Unknown - fiction • Internal colony 1600’s • Sweden’s West Indies - Rich on natural resources • “Civilize” the indigenous population (The Sámi People) • Sweden’s Irish question - Industry close-downs & Rural restructuring • Unemployment - Out-migration 1950’s • Natural population decrease - PROBLEMATIC

  5. VERY Briefly: theoretical points of departure • Identity formation is a representational process • All identities are constructed through the representations of the “other” • All representations are political… Said E 1966; Massey D 1994; McDowell L 1999; Van Dijk 2006; Gregory D 1995 etc. etc.

  6. VERY POLITICAL “People in Stockholm are more intelligent than country bumpkins” (Statement made by a Member of Parliament in 1998) “The statement made by Anna Kinberg Batra (Member of Parliament) in 1998 was nothing to apologize for; people in Stockholm are more intelligent than people in Norrland.” (Editorial, Dagens Nyheter 2006) POPULAR STEREOTYPES Pistvakt 1996, TV-series, SVT NorrlandsGuld 2003, TV-commercial

  7. THE ANALYSIS: REPRESENTATIONS OF NORRLAND IN A SWEDISH LEADING DAILY NEWSPAPER* • 98 articles 2000-2005 • Topics, labeling, grammatical agency (some) RESULTS: • A region in need of financial support • Depopulation • Establishment in Stockholm vs. Norrland • Municipalities and towns rarely specified • Demanding but passive An Unattractive space *Dagens Nyheter “Independent” Liberal

  8. THE MAKING OF REGIONAL IDENTITIES • Stockholm – Norrland • Urban – Rural • Modern - Traditional • Norrland fights back/resists: “We in the North are bothered by the debate concerning regions that draw on the reserves and regions that build up the reserves. It is not correct that Stockholm is contributing to the welfare in Norrland.” (Article by leading politicians from the counties in Norrland) • And reproduces the representations: “(…) we arrange the biggest protest march anyone ever seen – we gather outside the place of power (The Parliament in Stockholm)” (Lars Törnman politician, Kiruna Partiet (a local political party from Norrbotten) http://www.varmland.coop/visit/swe

  9. THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SPATIAL INTERNAL “OTHER” “They are not as ordinary Swedes up there” (Article reflecting on a specific case of sickness benefit) Lifestyle/”Cultural” differences: • Dependent on subsidies “But it is not only they the Norrlanders who are paying. As many Stockholmers state; they are also financing the traditional Norrlanders lifestyle.” • Traditional, Narrow-minded “The fact that young men in Norrland cling to their home is maybe worst for themselves (…) difficult to find a woman and settle down.”

  10. The ”traditional lifestyle” implies working class and traditional gender roles (among men) “The girls in Norrland on the other hand, have adopted middleclass ideals. They have expansive plans and are using their education to prepare themselves to move.” “It is also where in Västerbotten, Norrbotten and Västernorrland the shortage of female citizens is the greatest.” racism (narrow minded)… ”Our very own rednecks  Norrlanders don’t hesitate (…) the worst thing that could happen is that they will be forbidden to hunt on their own land.” (article concerning the distribution of land between Sámi’s and the Norrlanders (ethnic Swedes))

  11. “TRICKS OF METONYMICAL MAGIC” • Problematic region – problematic population • Specific traits of parts of Norrland/Stockholm become one with the entire region • Any person belonging to the population in Norrland/Stockholm becomes one with that entire population. • Cultural terms and lifestyle differences (Pred A 2000)

  12. THE DISCOURSE OF INTERNAL ORIENTALISM • Represent a subordinate section of the state to produce a national identity with desirably characteristics (Hechter J 1975; Jansson D 2005) • Internal spatial ”others”: Italy - the South(Moe N 1998),USA – the South(Jansson D 2005),The Celts – Great Britain(Hechter J 1975) • (Re)produces inequalities and hierarchies of places and people

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