The Good Society : A discourse analysis of parliamentary motions on children and youth in gang-related crime

Children and youth involved in gang-related crime in Sweden has recently become a widely debated topic, by the general public as well as those in power. Together it has contributed to a discourse containing different solutions. The aim of this study is therefore, through a discourse analysis, to explore how children and young people involved in gang-related crime are represented in parliamentary motions by Swedish political parties over the past two electoral terms. Further, to examine the implications of these representations for social work. Analysing 23 motions and applying a WPR-approach (what’s the problem represented to be), connected to Foucault's theories of discourse, knowledge and power, this study identifies two main representations: youth as either a perpetrator or victim. However, the effects of how they were represented was somewhat similar. Hence, the result shows us how political representations contribute to shaping identities through the construction of client groups. Furthermore, social authorities can be viewed as an extension of the government – contributing to reinforcing an identity, rather than restoring the children's autonomy. Therefore, it is important for those who work in social services to maintain a critical way of thinking to avoid becoming an instrument for the government.