Between Science and Politics: Establishing Alcohol Expertise in Sweden, 1940-1960s

• In Event: Interruptions and Facilitations: Moving Knowledge between Different Contexts

Abstract

The interlacing of decision-makers, experts and researchers are often put forward as a decisive factor in the creation of modern Sweden. With a historical lens, the paper examines the interface between knowledge, expertise and politics from the point of view of alcohol researchers, making use of source material from the Swedish National Medical Research Council. Since its inception in the 1940s the Medical Research Council was an important arena for promoting Swedish alcohol research and for facilitating knowledge exchange between researchers, politicians and bureaucrats. Drawing on STS-studies, and particularly on Harry Collins and Robert Evans’ (2009) concepts contributory and interactional expertise, the paper discuss how a Swedish specialist discourse on alcohol was established during the mid 20th century, shared by researchers and politicians alike.

Author

• Helena Bergman, Södertörn University