På armlängds avstånd? : En studie om kulturens autonomi och politisk styrning i Stockholm, Norrköping och Sölvesborg

This thesis examines the “arm's length principle” as a fundamental concept in Swedishcultural policy. The principle aims to protect artistic freedom from political influence, but theresults show that it is often influenced by local priorities that conflict with national culturalpolicy goals. Sweden's cultural policy, which previous research describes as an example ofthe so-called "architect model," emphasizing a balance between state governance and culturalautonomy, is questioned in the essay. The study reveals an ongoing shift in which culturalpolicy assumes a more instrumental role, risking the erosion of the principle of arm's lengthdistance and a reduction in cultural autonomy. The conclusion suggests that Swedish culturalpolicy may be at a crossroads, requiring a reconsideration of governance models to secure thebalance between autonomy and political responsibility, while preserving culture's role as adynamic and independent force in society.