Abstract
The Wolf debate in Sweden is not new. But this time the debate emerges together with other issues that also affect sustainable administration of biodiversity in relation to other social values – e.g. the conflict between forest preserved under nature conservation and forest primary produce in the North of Sweden, or the debate as to whether the legal right of access to private land should also be valid for German tourists. Should the commitment to these issues be interpreted as a sort of “counter mobilisation* against the challenges of globalisation, along the renewed cleavage lines urban-rural and centre-periphery? Does empirical support exist for the hypothesis that these cleavages have gained increased political significance in Sweden in the 21st century? An increased politicisation along the cleavage lines urban – rural and centre – periphery may be of importance for the centrality of issues such as the distribution of the wolf strain, the economical importance of hunting and the utilisation of resources of the forestry in National politics. In that respect he values, attitudes and opinions of the population are of central importance, as are the ideas that the decision makers and creators of opinion have about the cleavage lines rural – urban and centre – periphery. This is a multidisciplinary project, with cooperation partners from both Swedish and international universities.
Sweden