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The struggle for industrial democracy in Sweden: A sociological macro-meso analysis 1960–2020

Author

Listed:
  • Stefan Tengblad

    (Centre for Global Human Resource Management, University of Gothenburg, Sweden)

  • Thomas Andersson

    (School of Business, University of Skövde, Sweden; VID Specialized University, Faculty of Theology and Social Sciences, Oslo, Norway)

Abstract

Sweden has the reputation of being one of the most progressive countries in the world concerning work-life development and industrial democracy. In this article, an analytical overview of the development in these areas is provided, which includes the antecedents, major events, actor positioning and also the broad-term outcomes. Two major reform movements are described: one aiming to create a radically different work-life where workers control their own work with a power balance between labour and capital, and one a reformist movement aiming to create a degree of co-determination and a more engaging work-life without any major changes in power relations. The case shows that the radical movement was not able to generate radical change and that the reformistic movement achieved only partial success. The outcome over time has been a decreased interest in work-life development where co-determination practices are heavily institutionalized but perhaps do not provide better conditions for workers than in many other advanced industrial countries with a lesser degree of formal co-determination.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefan Tengblad & Thomas Andersson, 2025. "The struggle for industrial democracy in Sweden: A sociological macro-meso analysis 1960–2020," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 46(1), pages 287-312, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecoind:v:46:y:2025:i:1:p:287-312
    DOI: 10.1177/0143831X241235287
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Margareta Oudhuis & Stefan Tengblad, 2022. "The viability of the Scandinavian work-life model and the impact of lean production: The case of Scania," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 43(2), pages 748-772, May.
    2. Sofia Murhem, 2013. "Security and change: The Swedish model and employment protection 1995–2010," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 34(4), pages 621-636, November.
    3. Henrekson Magnus & Rietz Gunnar Du, 2014. "The Rise and Fall of Swedish Wealth Taxation," Nordic Tax Journal, Sciendo, vol. 2014(1), pages 9-35, May.
    4. Margareta Oudhuis & Anders Olsson, 2015. "Cultural clashes and reactions when implementing lean production in a Japanese-owned Swedish company," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 36(2), pages 259-282, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Andrew DA Smith & Kevin D Tennent, 2025. "The employee representation plan movement in the United States 1913–1935: The attempted legitimation of novel organizational forms," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 46(4), pages 1135-1163, November.

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