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Translation of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Swedish Politics

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Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Part of the book series: Health, Technology and Society ((HTE))

Abstract

In this chapter, the political understanding—or translation—of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is analysed within the context of the Swedish parliament. This is achieved with help from an actor network approach, using motions written by parliamentary politicians during the time period 1980–2015. The main findings suggest that there are two types of translations. The first is focused on public health issues in which CAM is presented as a potential contribution to problems such as long-term sick leaves. The second is focused on more specific CAM issues, such as legal constraints and lack of knowledge, which might delimit the use and practice of CAM. In general, the debate is in favour of CAM and is dominated by liberal and conservative parties. It is also dominated by ideals of freedom of choice and free markets, although ideals of social justice also are recurrent. Another finding is that the political understanding of CAM follows scientific and medical norms.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Several of these parties have changed their names during the debate or have longer full names. In the chapter, I have chosen the name used in everyday language and/or dominating during the time period in focus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden

    Jenny-Ann Brodin Danell

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  1. Jenny-Ann Brodin Danell
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Humanities and Social Science, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

    Caragh Brosnan

  2. School of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland

    Pia Vuolanto

  3. Department of Sociology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden

    Jenny-Ann Brodin Danell

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Danell, JA.B. (2018). Translation of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Swedish Politics. In: Brosnan, C., Vuolanto, P., Danell, JA. (eds) Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Health, Technology and Society. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73939-7_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73939-7_7

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-73938-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-73939-7

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

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