Informationskulturen i Attac Göteborg öppen eller sluten?
The aim of this study was to examine if an organisation that strives for democracy and participation, also possess an open information culture. This study deals with the information culture in a social movement organisation, Attac Gothenburg. To achieve the aim, following questions were asked: What is the organisation culture like, is it open or closed? What is the information culture like, is it open or closed? What is the information culture like, in relation to the identity of the organisation? The focus has been put on earlier research in social movements, organisation and information culture. In this qualitative study I have collected material mainly from interviews. The organisation culture of Attac Gothenburg was relatively closed; it was hard for a newcomer to get into the organisation, the different groups didnt have any organised collaboration, but the organisation, however, was flexible and open to changes. The information culture was both open and closed; it was open in the small working groups, but the overall picture showed that it was closed. In the working groups it was easy to share information, but there were problems in not getting information in the organisation as a whole, unless you belonged to the core of the organisation, or close to it. One conclusion that can be drawn is that the importance of the formal information increases, the bigger an organisation is and the more closed its information culture is. The identity of the organisation as open and democratic can be questioned. The information gap make the organisation risk loosing their members, especially members on the fringe, when the emphasis is on "doing things" instead of seeing to the importance of the organisational work. Attac is running the risk of becoming a small lobby organisation, instead of a popular and widespread organisation.