Hela nationens tacksamhet : svensk forskningspolitik på atomenergiområdet : 1945-1956

Abstract: The dissertation is a study of the Swedish atomic energy research policy since its inception in the mid-1940's until the parliamentary decision in 1956 to launch the massive program of research and technological development which became known as the ”Swedish line”. This program entailed an effort to develop and introduce a nuclear technology based on domestically produced heavy water reactors and domestic energy supplies as a key component in a long-term solution to the nation's energy problem. The analysis is based on a study of government documents, parliamentary materials and public debates as well as extensive studies of the archives of both public agencies such as the Swedish State Power Board, private bodies such as the large-scale private corporation ASEA and of the archives of the executive committee of the government party and of then-prime minister Tage Erlander. It has been possible to disaggregate the actual policy process into its constituent parts and, on the basis of such a close examination of the step-by-step process, to give an account which deviates considerably from many of traditional interpretations of both policy processes in general and of this period in modem Swedish political history in particular. Thus neither an exclusively rationalistic account in terms of the publicly stated objectives and reasons nor an account cast in terms of some of the more common metaphors in vogue such as ”iron triangles”, ”segments” or ”issue networks” are able to capture the essence of this complex policy process. Rather an image emerges of a process of constant negotiation that takes place in a contested border-line zone between the public and the private sphere. It is also possible to relate this process to over-arching themes in modem Swedish politics such as the debate over rationalization and over the proper role of the state in the economic life of society.