COVID-19 Stories from the Swedish Welfare State

Download or read book COVID-19 Stories from the Swedish Welfare State written by Barbara Czarniawska and published by Policy Press. This book was released on 2025-01-14 with total page 166 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book offers a unique perspective on Sweden’s COVID-19 response in its publicly funded welfare sector, which was initially highly criticised but later recognised as exemplary on the global stage in the aftermath of the pandemic. Using diaries, stories and interviews from 73 workers across 30 professions, it reveals the everyday experiences of those maintaining welfare services, both on the front lines and behind the scenes. Covering 2020 to 2022, it spans major cities and smaller municipalities across Gothenburg, Uppsala and Stockholm and introduces 'pandemicracy,' a concept exploring pandemic-era governance and organisation of the public sector. This insightful analysis sparks a wider discussion on adapting to unforeseen challenges in public welfare.