Political science on the periphery: Sweden

Abstract

Swedish political science has a long pedigree. The Johan Skytte professorship of discourse and politics was established at Uppsala University in 1622, although political science teaching and research did not begin until the 1860s. Today, the discipline is represented at all 10 Swedish universities and at a number of other centers for higher education. Early Swedish political science gravitated toward constitutional law, history, and philosophy. In principle, the discipline today deals with all possible aspects of politics; as far as domestic politics research is concerned, special emphasis has been given to analysis of ideas, local politics, interest organizations, and political parties, as well as public administration and public policy. Contacts with the outside world have been close; different worldwide theories and methods have successively been incorporated. The relations between the discipline and the surrounding Swedish society have also been close and the reputation and visibility of the discipline fairly high.