The lack lustre performance of Swedish compulsory schoolsover the past few decades does not need to define its future.As this report will show, the main challenges facing the Swedisheducation system do not stem from a lack of resources.The effective implementation of research based innovationsand improvements in organization could tackle many of thesystemic weaknesses in the education system, thereby ensuringa brighter future. By addressing existing difficulties in theteaching and delivery of the curriculum and ensuring pupilswho are at risk are able to flourish, learning outcomes will beimproved. This, in turn, will reduce inequality, thereby improvingthe life-opportunities of young people and maintaining thehigh standard of living enjoyed in Sweden.

The current study seeks to enrich our understanding of citizenship behaviour in the setting of meeting places for youth such as youth clubs, by identifying the main factors that may enhance this behaviour among youth leaders. Of special interest is whether youth leaders' or similar staffers' empowerment can serve as a mediator between young people's expectations about influence and participation and the development of their citizenship. Of interest are both empowering processes as well as empowered outcomes. The method used was a questionnaire sent out to young people visiting youth clubs and similar meeting places for the young, followed up with interviews. In the study, it was found that in youth clubs and similar meeting places for youth, empowering processes take place and, furthermore, that the young people have the chance to develop their citizenship there. On one hand, the study indicates that youth clubs and similar meeting places can be environments for shared possibilities for citizens. On the other hand, it is possible to be critical of the positive responses from the youth in taking part in the study, because if they felt negative they would not come back, which indicates the necessity of further research. To conclude, citizenship and empowerment embrace aspects of youth transition and outcomes of youth development concurrently.

The purpose of this article is to highlight some of the international research conducted in the field of citizenship education, and discuss the contents of people’s citizenship that are visible in the steering instruments of the Swedish compulsory- and upper secondary schools such as the school law, curriculum and syllabi. Of interest has been the study on how these control instruments describe and illustrate the concept of citizenship and the related concepts. The study highlights the content that is expected to be taught compared with the actual experiences from citizenship education research.In this research, textual analysis is used as a method to review the structure of the text and to scrutinize the content. From the analysis of the national steering documents, it is possible to argue that young people in Sweden have the opportunity to both learn about democracy and be active citizens. It can also be argued that students have the opportunity to be a part of the democratic working framework in practice, which can prepare them for active participation in society later in life. However, this research does not give any answer to whether what is political rhetoric in documents is also the educational outcome of the pedagogical practice.

This article explores the relationship between gender, citizenship and leisure activities for youth. The purpose with the article is to describe, explore and discuss whether meeting places for youth such as youth clubs support their citizenship. Based on a case study of young people place, space and activities are explored and discussed from a gender perspective. To collect data, several study visits have been done during a six month period, involving visiting all of the youth clubs and similar meeting places as part of the case study. As a research method textual analysis of daily diaries written by youth leaders were used. The result of the case study shows firstly that these places are more attractive to boys than to girls. Secondly, they can be places for the development of youth citizenship. Thirdly, visitors are offered the opportunity of taking an active role in their own transition to citizenship

The purpose of my research is to make visible, highlight and illuminate preschool teachers’ perception of what abilities they perceive children have possibilities to develop during their stay at preschools. Theories of citizenship are used as a theoretical framework. The research was conducted by using a questionnaire that was sent out to 13 local municipalities in the region of Norrbotten in the north of Sweden. Five in-depth interviews were also held. The results from the questionnaire showed an overall positive response from the respondents to almost all of the statements presented in the questionnaire. The positive responses that the preschool teachers and other staff gave to most of the statements in the questionnaire will be an important platform of knowledge for the development of active citizenship, although these positive responses still need to be critically analyzed and further investigated. The results from the in-depth interviews gave, in some parts, the same results as the questionnaire did. However, in the interviews, some critical aspects were highlighted such as: preschool teachers’ lacking time for the pedagogical mission stated in the curriculum; larger groups of children enrolled in the preschools can develop stress among children; and, finally, difficulties to get replacement staff to some preschools, which can be perceived as stressful by ordinary staff. Based on the research results, it is argued that children enrolled in Swedish preschools have the possibilities to develop as active citizens, and consequently develop active citizenship. However, a critical factor is the tendencies of the amount of larger groups of enrolled children in preschools, which, in turn, can delay the possibilities for the children to negotiate their citizenship on a daily basis.

Tourism industry is more important than ever. The turnover from Swedish tourism increased during 2005 with nearly 10 percent to almost 191 billion Swedish kronor. Leisure travellers were accountable for 46 percent, Swedish business travellers for 21 percent and travellers from abroad for 32 percent. A political aim are set up that Sweden in the future will be a high attractive force as a country that's interesting for tourism and leisure recreation (NUTEK, 2007; Qvist, 2005; Nordin, 2005). Although both important and promising, the Swedish tourism industry faces several obstacles for further growth. One central obstacle that has been put forward in much discussions and debates lately is the relative low educational level of tourism entrepreneurs. This research attempts specifically to address these concerns by increasing the understanding for the educational needs of Swedish tourism entrepreneurs, and to examine how a suitable educational offer can be developed to meet such potential needs.This study reports on interviews with predecessors of tourism firms and supporting organizations. The interviews focused on tourism entrepreneurs' need of education and potential ways of tailoring education to fit their needs and situation. Results from the interviews indicate that there are several areas in which tourism entrepreneurs express a need for education, and that there are several obstacles to overcome in matching offers for education. Results reveal a model for capacitating to be flexible in time and space, be realized during low season time for tourism entrepreneurs, being border-crossing and using possibilities of distance spanned education.

This article is about education, school leadership and citizenship and highlights preschool teachers and teachers' perception of their educational leadership with the starting point taken in schools and preschools’ written policy, curriculum, school legislation, grading system and other policy documents aimed at teachers and preschool teachers. More precisely the aim is to show, analyse and discuss their perception of their ability to develop the skills young people need to obtain their learning goals. The result clearly shows that the matter of how newly-arrived children and young people in Sweden best can be integrated into our society is a real key issue for Swedish schools and preschools and also for the future of Sweden as a whole.

In this article I present insights from research that has sought to deepen the perception of recreation leaders regarding leisure-time centres for young people (aged 6-12) and the contributions of these centres to the development and learning of children. Based on the research I argue that the relationship between entrepreneurship education and citizenship education is a close one, and it is possible for one to lend itself to the other and strengthen the development of an individual’s skills for inclusion in society. In the first part of the paper I introduce the concept of the leisure-time centre and its connection to the Education Act and the curriculum for elementary school, preschool, and after-school. In the next two sections I describe the theoretical framework for entrepreneurship education and citizenship education. In the fourth part I present the research. In the fifth part I discuss and analyse the findings of the research

The leisure-time center is an educational activity for school children through the age of twelve, where children are enrolled. Under the Education Act, the leisure-time centers provide children with meaningful leisure. Prerequisites for the children to experience leisure time as meaningful is that the activity is safe, fun and stimulating where play and creativity have much space and are shaped by children's age, maturity, needs, interests and experiences. The leisure-time center also has the task to teach and train future democratic citizens.The purpose of this paper is to highlight and explore the staff's perception of the organization's contribution to children's development and learning. Theories of entrepreneurship and citizenship education are used as a theoretical framework.Method used is an attitude survey questionnaire. A survey involving 39 statements were sent out to all 13 municipalities in the county of Norrbotten, in total 146 leisure-time centers. The questionnaire was distributed to professionals and other personnel working with children who are enrolled in after school. There are 164 professionals who answered the questionnaire; in the material are leisure-time centers from all municipalities represented.The results show that 65.6% agreed with the statement that children can develop their ability to play and 61,6% of respondents believe that children can develop their ability to work with others at the leisure-time centers. Many respondents strongly agree with the statement that children can develop their curiosity 52, 5%, and 48, 1% believes that they can develop their imagination staying at the leisure-time centers. Conclusions that can be drawn from the research is that the relationship between entrepreneurship and citizenship education is a close one and it is possible that one may lend itself to the other and strengthen the development of individuals skills for inclusion in society.

The leisure sector, for example sports and games, has witnessed a tremendous expansion between 1960 and the present. During the last ten years the private sector led by companies, economic associations, foundations and many businesses have expanded their involvement in the leisure sector. Whereas before the state controlled all parts of the leisure value chain it is now possible to distinguish between those who produce, arrange and finance leisure services. This observation provides us with the ability to analyse how different approaches to leisure services are applied to the welfare of its citizens and how good they are distributed to those requiring the services.The main purpose of this thesis is to describe, and analyse decisions and goals of Swedish government policy with respect to people's leisure and free time during the period from 1962 to 2005. In addition, this paper highlights government organisation of leisure activities and the organisations that have been created to achieve government goals in the area of public policy.Three principle questions were addressed:- What are the goals, values and intentions of the government as highlighted in official documents?- What models and ideals of governance are used by the government?- What issues, actors, demographic aspects, forms of organizations and institutions are highlighted in official documents?This thesis is intended to increase knowledge of the Swedish government's goals and objectives in the leisure field and provide decision makers with background information that will contribute to public policy in the field of leisure. It will also highlight for both government civil servants and those in the private sector of leisure services, the large number of problems created by the use of the current system.The empirical analysis in these documents covers Propositions, Governmental investigations (SOU) and one Governmental written paper (Ds). The material represents the broad leisure sector from 1962 until 2004/05. The fields are sports, culture, exercise, tourism and also recreation and healthcare. Leisure commission investigation, SOU (1962), Sports to everyone, SOU (1969:29), Governmental culture politics, Proposition (1974:28), Leisure in change, SOU (1996:3), Culture politics, Proposition (1996/97:3), Sports and exercise for your life, SOU (1998:76), Sport politics for year 2000, Proposition (1998:99:107), Governmental support for outdoor life, Written paper, Ds (1999:78), Goals for peoples health, Proposition (2002/03:35) and at last Long range planning for a competitive Swedish tourism industry Proposition (2004/05:56).The method used in the paper is a textual analysis with a focus on the structure and formulations of the texts. The tools used are idea-, contents-, and argumentation analysis. I have considered the intended audience and the context of the texts. Different quotations in the texts were analysed in order to identify values, attitudes and the intentions of the different authors. ....

The current study seeks to enrich our understanding of citizenship behaviour in the setting of meeting places for youth such as youth clubs, by identifying the main factors that may enhance this behaviour among youth leaders. Of special interest is if youth leaders or similar staffers’ empowerment can serve as a mediator between young people’s expectations about influence and participation and the development of their citizenship. Of interest are both empowering processes as well as empowered outcomes. The method used is a questionnaire sent out to young people visiting youth clubs and similar meeting places for the young. In the study, were found that in youth clubs and similar meeting places for youth, empowering processes take place and furthermore that they have possibilities to develop their citizenship. Youth clubs and similar meeting places can be environments for shared possibilities for citizens. To conclude, human, rights, citizenship and empowerment embrace aspects and outcomes concurrently. Keywords: Youth Clubs, Human Rights, Citizenship, Empowerment

The purpose of this article is first to make visible, examine, and illuminate the young generation’s perception of what they learn and how they learn during their visits to youth clubs and similar meeting places; second, through visitors’ own comments, interviews with visitors, and analysis of staff’s diaries, to reflect on and analyze the unconscious learning that might have been visible; and third, to discuss how these particular contexts contribute to learning. The research was conducted using two questionnaires, staff daily notes in diaries, and through interviews with young people visiting youth clubs and similar meeting places. The results of the empirical study show that there is a gap between the youngsters’ perception of what they learn or verbalize with the help of youth leaders and what they actually learn. To conclude, these meeting places can have a compensatory function to schools; a sort of expanded learning to help young people develop their citizenship. However, I shall take a critical view and argue that youth clubs and similar meeting places lack in making visible what young visitors actually can learn from their visits. To make it possible I suggest that the learning situations must be verbalized, discussed and made visible together with the youth leaders and the group of visitors or the individual visitors.

This paper describes and analyses decisions and goals of Swedish government policy with respect to leisure and free time from 1962 to 2005. This paper clarifies the areas and needs that have been considered important priorities, which principles for the organisation of the leisure field the authorities have followed, and the actors who have been made responsible. The method used is an analysis of papers issued by the government relating to sports, culture, exercise, tourism, and also health care. This paper highlights still ongoing changes that have been occurring in the Swedish leisure sector since the 1960s. Based on current trends, it is likely that there will be less traditional political influence over the leisure and tourism sector in the future. A political aim for Sweden in the future is that it should be a highly attractive tourist destination. It is argued that to achieve this aim it will be necessary to aggregate official resources with those of different levels of government, and with the capabilities of the commercial and voluntary sectors.

The leisure sector has witnessed a tremendous expansion since 1960. The purpose of this article is to analyse the decisions and goals of Swedish government policy during the period 1962 to 2005. The empirical analysis covers government Propositions and governmental investigations. The fields covered are sports, culture, exercise, tourism and recreation. The article concludes that during the last ten years the private sector, led by companies, economic associations and foundations, has expanded its involvement in the leisure sector. Whereas the state used to control all parts of the leisure value chain, it is now possible to distinguish between those who produce, arrange and finance leisure services

Skriften utgår från de erfarenheter och kunskaper som finns i de sex kommuner som samarbetat med kvalitetsarbete inom Nackanätverket, och handlar om nätverk, strategisk planering, finansieringsmodell och resursfördelning.Under 2006-2007 har kommunerna i Nackanätverket, med stöd av Ungdomsstyrelsen,gemensamt bedrivit ett projekt där vi formulerat och prövat olika verktyg för att planera och följa upp öppen fritidsverksamhet. I detta projekt har vi fått stöd och handledning av Mari Asplund och Lisbeth Lindström vid Luleå Tekniska Universitet. Vi har också fått hjälp av Mia Eriksson, fritidsledarutbildningen på Valla folkhögskola som har lämnat synpunkter på texten i denna skrift. De kommuner som deltagit i Nackanätverket är :Nacka kommun, Tyresö kommun, Haninge kommun, Gotlands kommun Mjölby kommun Jönköpings kommunSkriften är producerad med stöd av Ungdomsstyrelsen och är en del av myndighetens satsning Förebyggande och främjande ungdomsarbete. Vi hoppas att den kan inspirera flera till att diskutera och formulera uppdragen, till att arbeta mer och bättre med kvalitet och uppföljning och till att bilda nätverk med andra som har liknande förutsättningar som man själv.

The overall aim of this research is to describe and analyze the objectives of national cultural policy, based on the Government’s cultural policy document (the cultural proposition), and thereby learn which are the areas covered by the national cultural policy and what is the role taken by the state in relation to that expressed in the policy document. For this purpose, the following research questions were addressed: Firstly, what goals, values and intentions are expressed and provided in the policy document at national level in the selected time period; secondly, what subject areas, actors, groups and individuals are highlighted in the selected texts and time period? Textual analysis was used as method and the strategy to relate the text to the author, as the interest was in understanding the Government’s intentions. The results show that, with new opportunities, new challenges arise as do new demands. It is important that future cultural politics take into account these changes and are formed by taking advantage of the young generations’ knowledge, values and cultural expressions. This paradigm shift, that citizens, in future will be active creators of culture, rather than passive recipients, is the notion envisaged by the state in the proposition. To conclude, the state’s ambition sounds high, but what is political rhetoric and what is actually implementable cannot be answered by this study. Future research must give voice to users and creators of culture giving the answer to the question if there is a cultural policy for all citizens in all parts of the country.

School leadership has become a priority in education policy globally. Leadership is important for school andpreschool performance because it affects teachers' motivation and capacity as well as their working environment.The purpose of this article is, through interviews with head teachers and preschool directors in northern Sweden, tomake visible school leaders’ understanding of the work that takes place in schools and preschools and how thataffects children's and students' conditions and opportunities to learn and develop. The results of the study show thatschool leaders are aware of the value of their educational leadership and the importance of collegial learning, butthere are other barriers that prevent the realisation of the ambitions decided at high level.

In this article, we contribute to theory by integrating literature on citizenship and entrepreneurship, based on which we develop a framework for how personal development is achieved for young people in the context of open leisure activities. The empirical material in this study consists of survey data collected in Swedish open leisure centers. A questionnaire was distributed to 265 publicly funded leisure centers all over Sweden. The material was analyzed in an exploratory study involving factor analysis using hierarchical regression in four steps. When reviewing the results, it is clear that citizenship and entrepreneurship both contribute to personal development at open leisure centers in Sweden. To conclude, this exploratory study provides evidence that concepts from citizenship and entrepreneurship theory can help in understanding the personal development of young people in publicly run leisure settings.

As a case study, young people visiting youth clubs and similar meeting places in a local council in northern Sweden, was explored in terms of place, space and activities of the club or meeting places and discussed in the perspective of social and cultural transformation. To collect data over a 6-month period, several visits were carried out to the youth clubs and similar meeting places. During the visits, notes and photographs were taken of the physical environment of the clubs. As a theoretical framework, theories of citizenship were used. The following questions are of special interest: where are these meeting places located; what kind of visitors do they attract; what kind of activities do they offer; how do visitors use the space and what kind of citizenship do they support? The results of the study show first that these places are more attractive to boys than to girls. Second, youth clubs and similar meeting places offer many activities for both boys and girls, which are used in a traditional female or male context. Third, those who visit youth clubs and similar meeting places at their leisure time are offered the opportunity of taking an active role in their transition to citizenship.

Det finns ett stort behov av kunskapsutveckling avseende verksamheter som riktar sig till ungdomar på den fria tiden. Syftet med denna studie var dels att undersöka ungdomars faktiska upplevelser av öppen fritidsverksamhet men också att få en uppfattning om vilka förmågor de anser att de kan utveckla vid sina besök vid olika mötesplatser. Målet var att närma sig fritidspraktiken för att få svar på ungdomars upplevelse av inflytande och delaktighet, deras möjlighet till att ta ansvar, att utvecklas som individer, identifiera deras entreprenöriella förmågor samt deras möjligheter att utveckla sitt medborgarskap som besökare i den öppna fritidsverksamheten.Den metod som använts vid datainsamlingen är enkätstudie. Totalt skickades 6 625 frågeformulär ut till sammanlagt 265 verksamhetsställen. Av dessa verksamhetsställen har 60 svarat på enkäten vilket motsvarar 1 061 inkomna enkäter. Av 26 tillfrågade kommuner finns 23 kommuner representerade i materialet. Karaktäriskt för entreprenörskap är att få sina drömmar förverkligade, att utveckla sina talanger och möjligheter, att få ge uttryck för sin kreativitet, nyfikenhet och uppfinningsrikedom. Den här undersökningen visar att unga som besöker olika fritidsverksamheter som fritidsgårdar har möjlighet att ge uttryck för sin kreativitet, nyfikenhet och uppfinningsrikedom som besökare. Det är relativt många av de svarande, 43,9 %, som menar att de är en person som kan tänka sig att ta risker ibland. Nästan lika många 39.3 % menar att de har många möjligheter till att vara aktiv och delaktig vid sina besök vid verksamhetsställena och 42 % svarar att de har bra självförtroende. Det är 44,7 % som menar att de har god självkänsla. Dessa resultat och andra resultat från undersökningen som till exempel att 40,4 % av de tillfrågade svarar att de är nyfikna av sig visar att unga kan och har möjlighet att utveckla sina entreprenöriella förmågor vid sina besök vid olika mötesplatser för unga. Resultatet av denna studie visar att öppen fritidsverksamhet där unga erbjuds möjligheter att delta under fria former kan bidra till att utveckla deras entreprenöriella förmågor. Frågan kvarstår dock om personalen tillsammans med besökarna kan vidareutveckla och fördjupa individers entreprenöriella förmågor i ett processtänkande när den egna arbetssituationen är både otrygg och kortsiktig.

The purposes of this research are, first, to make visible, examine, and illuminate preschool teachers’ perception of what children enrolled in preschools learn and how they learn it; and second, to highlight and illuminate what abilities preschool teachers perceive that children can develop during their stay at preschools. As a theoretical framework, theories of entrepreneurship education and citizenship education are used. The research was conducted using a questionnaire sent out to thirteen local municipalities in the county of Norrbotten in the north of Sweden. The results showed a thoroughgoing positive response from the respondents to almost all of the statements presented in the questionnaire. The positive responses that the preschool teachers and other staff gave to the statements in the questionnaire can be an important platform for the development of active citizenship, although these positive responses still need to be critically analysed and further investigated.Based on the research results, it is argued that the relationship between entrepreneurship education and citizenship education is a close one and that it is possible for one to lend itself to the other and strengthen the development of individual´s skills for inclusion in society from very early ages.

This article presents a theoretical review of the notion of citizenship using a critical analysis of published international research. A citizen may be described as a member of a political community or state who has certain legal, social and moral rights, duties and responsibilities. Based on the research, the author suggests the notion of citizenship must be seen in a broader perspective with aspects of both globalisation and local phenomena seen from a citizen's daily life experiences as well as of gender, race, sexuality, ability, ethnicity, religion and class. The notion of citizenship must also focus on cultural, demographic, political and socio-economic contexts of everyday life. The Marshall paradigm of citizenship and the various critiques of it are presented in the introduction. Widespread concerns about declining levels of political engagement and participation among young people in the entire Western world are discussed as well as more recent research that has questioned the view that young people are politically apathetic. Insights are presented about theories and perspectives of young people's citizenship, and those dimensions of citizenship that have remained invisible, such as young citizens' adoption of values of individualisation and globalisation, are highlighted.

The purpose with this article is to describe, explore, and discuss texts that ten Swedish local councils present on their homepages from the perspective of leisure, influence and citizenship for youths. Content analysis is used as a method in order to understand the content and structure of texts such as political aims, strategical plans and budgets. The result of the empirical study shows that the picture of youth citizenship is neither uniform nor coherent, but rather complicated and contradictory. On the one hand, the image of young people is that they are presented as individuals who are creative, interested in and willing to take responsibility for matters which concern them. The image of youth is that they need to practice democracy in particular established structures. Young people are seen as individuals who need places to hang around, meet with their friends and have free access to activities such as listening to music, playing games or using the Internet. On the other hand the idea that the young generation needs protection and tutoring, to be watched over, controlled and sometimes guarded by social authorities is also expressed in the texts.

This article is about school development, based on empirical data taken from Sweden's northernmost county, Norrbotten, situated in the Barents region of northern Europe. The survey includes all of the county's 13 municipalities. The aim of this article is to illustrate school leaders' views of school development in the organisation and municipality where they work. We chose a quantitative study as the method for obtaining answers to our questions. A questionnaire relating to leadership and school development was sent to 170 addressees. The statements in the questionnaire were put to respondents on the basis of previous research results that showed the importance of collective learning, leadership and the organisation of educational activities. The results from the survey show overwhelmingly positive answers from the respondents; they usually agree completely or partially with the statements. The result shows, for example, that there is a developed vision, there is consensus within the organisation, lessons learned in activities are documented, and teachers/educationists are encouraged to talk to each other about the structure of their teaching. The result is a picture of awareness on the part of the respondents of the importance of school leadership for children and young people's development into citizens. The mainly positive answers that the respondents have submitted, however, mean that there is a gap between what is actually implemented in activities and the respondents' own views. In order to verify the results, the study needs to be continued in more detail through interviews with a number of the respondents and take into account teachers' opinions regarding school development and leadership.

The purpose of this article is to shed some light on and give some examples of how the Swedish schools have interpreted their mission of educating young people and preparing them for the role of active citizens. More specifically, we are interested in how the “good” or “aspirational” school is presented in the reports published by the Swedish Schools Inspectorate. Our departure point will be the inspection work conducted by the Swedish Schools Inspectorate between 2009 and 2012. The selection of data is based on our wish to highlight supervisory reports, quality audit reports and targeted inspection reports. Another selection principle has been that not only municipal schools, but also independent schools, had to be represented among the analysed documents. Five of the reports are quality audit reports, two are the result of targeted inspections, and finally we have analysed one supervisory report. The results indicate that the aim of improving the pupils’ knowledge results is a high priority for the Inspectorate, as is the goal to ensure all children and pupils’ equal rights to a good education in a safe and stimulating environment, and to develop their civic skills. The analysed reports show that the inspections have revealed inadequate fulfilment of all these goals. Whether school inspections can functionally contribute to fulfilling the goal of educational equality, improving the knowledge of Swedish pupils and helping them develop into good citizens is debatable. On the one hand, the auditing function in itself constitutes a threat to the school operations developing a sense of judgement that would allow for reflections beyond the concept of effectiveness, and on the other hand the audits may, paradoxically enough, liberate the strength to question the discursive dominance of the Swedish Schools Inspectorate, shaped by systemic world logic, and thereby achieve an independent development.

Citizenship is a central theme in the government's involvement in leisure. Youth citizenship and leisure have much in common as authorities have seen leisure as a way to foster young people to decent citizens. This paper is about aspects of citizenship as well as of representative and participatory democracy. Method used is textual analyses of ten Swedish local councils expressed aims for leisure and youth citizenship formulated on their homepages. Based on research one can notice that local councils offer different types of citizenship. Facilities for creativity are offered which give the youths opportunity to participate as individuals. Established assemblies are seen which work within a formal democratic frame but in which those participating only represents them selves. Organized chat pages on the internet and possibilities to search for funds for individual projects are as well often seen. Finally organized meeting places such as youth clubs with a representative forum based on collective interests are frequently established. One conclusion that can be drawn from research is a picture of young peoples executing their democratic rights as a collective body by official democratic means and through formalized channels. On the other hand, another conclusion that also can be drawn from the research is a picture seen on local council's homepages of young peoples seeing their political activities and commitments in highly personal terms.

The purpose of this article is to describe, explore and discuss whether meeting places for youth such as youth clubs support their citizenship in terms of gender equality, influence and participation. The following questions were of interest; what is the overall aim of the local councils regarding these clubs and meeting places? What kind of activities do they offer and what kind of citizenship do they support? The result shows that these places are more attractive to boys than to girls. Furthermore, these meeting places can, if developed, be places for the development of youth citizenship from the perspective of integration, gender equality and participation.

The purpose of this article is to describe, explore and discuss whether meeting places for youth such as youth clubs support their citizenship in terms of gender equality, influence and participation. The following questions were of interest; what is the overall aim of the local councils regarding these clubs and meeting places? What kind of activities do they offer and what kind of citizenship do they support? The result shows that these places are more attractive to boys than to girls. Furthermore, these meeting places can, if developed, be places for the development of youth citizenship from the perspective of integration, gender equality and participation.

The purpose of this study is to discuss and analyze an empirical investigation performed in the counties of Norrbotten and Västerbotten in Sweden. Specifically, the aim was to identify and value potentials and pitfalls in the development of tourism in the northern part of Sweden. In doing so we, among other things, discuss potential meeting places for interactivities, possibilities for collaboration, problem solutions and need for capacitating expressed from predecessor for officials, non profit organizations, educational sector and industrial life. The study results are based on a textual analysis of strategic documents and interviews with representatives for tourism business, organizations and officials. The content analysis of strategic documents from the municipalities represented in this research contains methods, aims and objectives for developing leisure and tourism. A total of 14 representatives from the county of Norrbotten and Västerbotten were interviewed and thereby contributed to the present study. It is possible to cluster these persons into four distinguished groups: 1) civil servants/destination developers from municipalities, 2) civil servants from county councils/university, 3) companies and 4) associations active with tourism activities. Civil servants from the municipalities Umeå, Skellefteå, Boden, and Piteå were interviewed. Two representatives came from the county of Västerbotten and one from the county of Norrbotten. One researcher from the county of Västerbotten was interviewed as well. Umeå and Skellefteå are situated in the county of Västerbotten and have 110 000 and 72 000 inhabitants respectively. Piteå and Boden with 41 000 and 28 100 inhabitants respectively are situated in the county of Norrbotten. Result from interviews of destination developers as well as entrepreneurs indicate clear possibilities for developing leisure and tourism in both counties. Furthermore, interview results underline that northern part of Sweden is interesting for several tourism groups as the brand has been successfully developed over the last years. However, results from this study also point at some important areas in need of further development. Firstly, this study highlights the importance of developing strategically plans on county and local levels but as well to develop a strategic plan which crosses the boarders of the regions municipalities and counties to avoid sub-optimation and other types of difficulties related to decentralization. Secondly, the region is in need of a joint work force to coordinate an package attractions and experiences for prospective and existing tourists. Thirdly, an increased discussion and work on sustainability and accessibility is needed to prepare the region for future tourist needs. Sustainable leisure and tourism will be more important in the future at the same time as we can expect increases in numbers of tourists, which can be viewed as somewhat of a paradox. Fifthly, this study also highlights the importance of developing a program for education of tourism entrepreneurs. Several of the interviewed destination developers and tourism entrepreneurs mentioned the need to improve the level of education among tourism entrepreneurs as this is viewed important to be able to meet needs and expectations from an increasing amount of tourists. Finally, host ship and services from each citizen in this part of Sweden will be critical factors for success or fail.