Exporting visions and saving children the Swedish Save the Children Fund

Abstract: The present study deals with the Swedish Save the Children Fund’s, Rädda Barnen’s expansion during 1938-1956. During this period, Rädda Barnen developed into anorganization of both national and international importance. What factors enabled this advanceand how this affected Rädda Barnen’s performance and outlining of relief work will beanalysed. Swedish politics and interactions with the Swedish government, but also with otherrelief organizations, shaped the territory within which Rädda Barnen developed. For thisreason, these interactions will be investigated too. In the interactions that took place on boththe national and international level, struggles seemed to surfaced between the differentorganizations, and what was at stake in these struggles will also be examined.How Rädda Barnen carried out its relief work both within the country and on theinternational arena will be discussed in the last part of the study. Some examples of activitiesarranged for different groups of children will be presented. How Rädda Barnen carried out itsrelief both within the country and on the international arena will be discussed in the last partof the study. Some examples of activities arranged for different groups of children will bepresented. How the decisions were made concerning where and to which children relief wouldbe provided will also be analysed.