Att bygga broar - Om delaktighet och inflytande i det mångkulturella samhället
ParticipationMulticultural societyInfluenceIntegrationLocal democracyPolitical and administrative sciencesStatsvetenskapFörvaltningskunskapLaw and Political Science
This thesis deals with the issues of participation and influence in the multicultural society. The aim with the study is twofold, first to identify determinants improving participation and influence in this context, and second to see if the ecouragement of a strong civil society in ethnic segregated areas is a possible way forward to a multicultural democracy. This is conducted through a case study of brobyggarna in Malmo, Sweden, and how they as an integration policy is working with these questions. Six qualitative interviews have been conducted with seven persons workning as brobyggare or in close connection with them. Toghether with readings of earlier research this material is analysed through an eclectic model with theories put together in five analythic dimensions, Multicultural democracy, Social milieu, Unequal possibillities to participate and influence and Local powerstructures. The conclusion points at the importance of buildning networks and of the active construction of dialouge with citizens based on trust and informality. The results also stress the meaning of the organisations in civil society as mediators between the citizens and the desicionmakers, but with the caution that this is not unproblematic and the possibility of reproduced local power structures is constantly present.