Det komplexa medborgarskapet - Om myndighetsföreträdarens makt och individens frihet i tillämpningen av LSS-lagen

Sammanfattning: The principle aim of the Law on Support and Service for people with Certain Functional Impairments (LSS) is to guarantee full participation in society and freedom to choose one’s own path in life. These are ambitious goals; however, they lack both precision and reference to daily care work. Through 17 qualitative interviews with caregivers working in group homes for disabled, this thesis examines the normative claims of LSS in the operative setting where they are expected to be fulfilled. The theoretical framework is built around two distinct ideas concerning the concept of citizenship: firstly, the idea of the individualized citizenship, associated with freedom of choice and with strong restrictions in regards to government interventions; secondly, the idea of a collectivized citizenship, based on participation in social life and with more room for government actions to promote certain ways of living. My analysis shows that both of these concepts of citizenship are present in operative care work – giving rise to frequent tension, which the care officials have to deal with. It is also apparent that a personal and emotional relationship between the caregiver and the citizen often play a key part in dealing with these dilemmas.