Governing Karlstad: an Insider’s Story

Abstract

Anyone observing a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Swedish city of Karlstad during the (major part of the) 1990s would probably be struck by the smoothness of it all. All items of any financial importance were prepared by the Finance Department. The proposals made by the Finance Director in his reports were approved. Sometimes, the local council’s opposition leader would register his disagreement, and that was it. No debate took place, although a few factual questions were asked. These were answered by some of the numerous top officials present. A more experienced observer would perhaps notice the ritualistic character of the proceedings. Both the process and substance of the meetings seemed scripted, and their results were almost predictable. The only slight source of uncertainty would be the Green Party’s representative, who occasionally asked surprise questions or took unusual positions. These interventions were either ruled out of order or neutralised by political arguments, which were often conveyed in condescending fashion.

History must be rewritten. Always.

Gunnar Björling (Finnish-Swedish poet, 1887–1960)