The LSS Reform in Sweden

: Focusing on the Relationship between Government and Disability Organizations

Abstract

This paper analyzes the changes in the relationship between the government and disability organizations over the recent LSS reform in Sweden, with the aim of making suggestions about the nature of the state-civil society relationship under neoliberalism. Swedish LSS, which was designed to be thoroughly client-centered, was once the result of collaboration and dialogue between the government and disability organizations. However, the 2018 LSS Investigation Report showed blatant austerity measures, plunging relations between the two sides into an unprecedented crisis. There have been signs of compromise since 2020. As a lesson to be learned from the relationship between them, this paper pointed to the power of resilience that can overcome conflicts and restore collaborative relationships even under neoliberalism. In addition, We emphasized the importance of creating a mechanism for constant and public dialogue between the government and disability organizations, which is also the source of such power.