Att möta krisen : Politikbyte på lokal nivå under industrikrisen i Söderhamn 1975-1985

Sammanfattning: This dissertation is a study of how local municipalities handle local industrial crises. More specifically the aim is to investigate the change in ideas and concepts that lead to a change in industrial policy during the industrial crisis in the 1970’s and 1980’s in Söderhamn.The first years of industrial decline in Söderhamn were handled with traditional methods. A powerful public opinion united to protest against the repeated shutdowns. Petitions were signed. The established interests in Söderhamn, mainly represented by different parts of the labour movement, tried to defend the old industries. Public opinion and the important pressure groups claimed that the central government in Stockholm and the large companies were responsible for the employment losses.In the early eighties the prevailing local consensus was put into doubt by the unions and some local Social Democrats. They urged for a more active local government to strengthen the local industry. At this time a more advanced local industrial policy was formulated. By expanding the organisation of local industrial policy, investing in growth companies and recruiting more personnel, more efficient tools were created. An important conclusion is that the new local industrial policy could not be implemented before the important decision-makers accepted new standards and a new view of the crisis.