Research
The main focus of my research is political processes. This means that the empirical scope of my research is wide encompassing the development of the welfare state, globalization and ideological shifts and, primarily, how these macro trends impact politics on national, regional and local levels. These issues are often theoretically informed by a neo-institutional perspective highlighting issues of power and democracy.
The area that I have focused on mostly during recent years is the challenges from global climate change and how these challenges are handled by society. A special interest here is if and how institutionalized political practices and norms facilitates or hinders collective action. This latter interest has entailed an increased interest in political theoretical perspectives and a critical scrutiny of the role of politics and ideologies (neo-liberalism) in climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.
Recent publications
(in English only. For my publications in Swedish, look at the Swedish version of this webpage)
I am, together with david Olsson and Andreas Öjehag-Pettersson, author of the open access article "Building a Sustainable Society: Construction, Public Procurement Policy and ‘Best Practice’ in the European Union" (2021) published in the journal Sustainability. You can read the article here.
I am, together with Leigh Glover, author of the open access article "The politics of maladaptation" (2021) published in the journal Climate. You can read the article here.
I am, together with Ann-Catrin Kristianssen, author of the open access article "Transforming local climate adaptation organization: Barriers and progress in 13 Swedish municipalities" (2021) published in the journal Climate. You can read the article here.
I am, together with Leigh Glover, author of the open access article "The climate just city" (2021) published in the journal Sustainability. You can read the article here.
I am a co-author of the open access article "Covid-19 and Sweden’s exceptionalism—a spotlight on the cracks in the social fabric of a mature welfare state" (2021) published in the journal Public Money & Management. You can read the article here.
I am, together with Erik Persson, author of the open access article "Implementation through collaborative crisis management and contingency planning: the case of dam failure in Sweden" (2020) published in the Journal of Risk Research. You can read the article here.
New book (2020) with Leigh Glover, The Politics of Adapting to Climate Change. You find more information about the book here.
I am a co-author on the open access article "Sustainable development and cross-disciplinary research education: Challenges and opportunities for learning" (2020) published in the journal Högre Utbildning.You can read the article here.
I am a co-author on the open access article "Can Regional-Scale Governance and Planning Support Transformative Adaptation? A Study of Two Places" (2019) published in the journal Sustainability.You can read the article here.
I am, together with Andreas Öjehag, author of the open access article "Public Procurement as Marketisation: Impacts on Civil Servants and Public Administration in Sweden" (2019) published in the journal Scandinavian Journal of Public Administration. You can read the article here.
I am a co-author on the open access article "An Integrative Research Framework to Unravel the Interplay
of Natural Hazards and Vulnerabilities" (2018) published in the journal Earth's Futures.You can read the article here.
I have co-edited, and co-authored four chapters in, the book Local Action on Climate Change: Opportunities and Constraints (2018). You find more information about the book here.
I have authored the chapter "Strong local government moving to the market? The case of low carbon futures in the city of Örebro, Sweden" (2018) that is included in the book Rethinkning Urban Transitions: Politics in the Low Carbon City. You find more information about the book here.
On-going research
I am a researcher in the project "Procurement for Sustainable Innovation in the Built Environment", funded by The Swedish Research Council Formas. Procurement is a fundamental driving force for innovation in the built environment but may also be an obstacle to change. Today, it is a problem that traditional price-focused procurement strategies are too often used when new goals for economic, ecological and social sustainability call for more flexible and innovation-oriented approaches.
I am a researcher and co-programme leader for "Societal Resilience" financed by The Swedish Civil Contingency Agency (MSB). The programme studies how society can handle the impacts challenges and remain resilient. Resilient here meaning an ability to retain steering and control and society's vital functions. Empirically the programme focuses on climate adaptation, reception of refugees and radicalization.
I am also a researcher in the project "The Pandemic in the Local" that studies Swedish municipalities risk management in relation to the ongoing corona pandemic. The project is a collaboration with the Risk and Crisis Research Centre (RCR) at Mid-Sweden University.