New ideal types of development? The case of the United Nations Association of Sweden and the information and communication strategy

Abstract

This qualitative case study examines how varying perspectives on development shape foreign aid budgets and how this leads to consequences for civil society organisations and society as a whole. Since Sweden´s new government took office, substantial cuts have been made to the foreign aid budget, notably reducing funding for the information and communication strategy. The United Nations Association of Sweden, including its Glocal Sweden project, have been affected by these changes. Glocal aimed to promote Agenda 2030 awareness and sustainable development within Swedish municipalities and regions. The study aims to understand how the United Nations Association of Sweden represent what development is about and how their representation can be contrasted with the government´s emerging development policy approach. Utilising Carol Bacchi´s “What´s the problem represented to be” approach and ideal types of development, the study incorporates semi-structured interviews, the Glocal project´s final report, and the government´s funding decision, alongside government statements. Conclusively, the study highlights that sustainable development is no longer the most dominating development paradigm. Instead, conducting development work based on a top-down approach seems to characterise the current paradigm. Throughout the history of aid, Sweden has been among the countries allocating a relatively significant proportion of their total aid to be used by civil society organisations. However, as a result of the government´s decision to reduce funding for the information and communication strategy, it appears we are now departing from this approach.