Den främmande narkotikan - för Sverige, i tiden

Sammanfattning: This thesis explores how theories of nationalism can be applied to analyze the Swedish drug policy discourse during the years 1967-2011. The study is conducted by using a theoretical framework, consisting of the theory of banal nationalism and nationalism as a discursive formation, to serve as a tool to critically understand positions in the discourse. The material that constitutes the drug policy discourse, consists of five governmental official investigations (SOU), beginning 1967 and concluding 2011. The methodological approach for the study is based on Faircloughs three dimensional framework on critical discourse analysis, as where the discursive and social practice are the terms used. In matters of context, the material is chosen from a wide range of investigations, where the selected material is in relation to important events in Swedish drug policy. The findings are presented for each investigation which follows a line of explaining the contextual circumstances and production of the text, followed by an analysis of the social practice. In the conclusion, the findings are presented as supporting the hypothesis that to some extent, the Swedish drug policy discourse has features of nationalism, although this is not a definite answer and explanation.