Jörgen Sparf

Professor|Professor

  • Tjänstetitel: Professor
  • Akademisk titel: Professor
  • Annan titel: PhD, MA, MFA
  • Telefon arbete: +46 (0)10-1428276
  • E-postadress: jorgen.sparf@miun.se
  • Rumsnummer: P2622
  • Ort: Östersund

Presentation

Jörgen Sparf är professor i sociologi vid Mittuniversitetet och en av grundarna av forskningscentret Risk and Crisis Research Centre (RCR). Han samordnar institutionens forskningsinriktning om krisstyrning. Han är också forskningsprofessor vid NTNU Samfunnsforskning i Trondheim, där han har arbetat på deltid sedan 2022.
https://www.miun.se/rcr
https://www.samforsk.no

Forskningsområden

Jörgens arbete bygger på relationell sociologi, organisationsteori och social nätverksanalys, tillsammans med teorier om katastrofer, resiliens, sårbarhet och förmåga. Han tillämpar dessa perspektiv på hur offentlig politik formas och förändras inom kris- och katastrofstyrning, och på hur vetenskaplig kunskap kommer till användning i det arbetet. Bland hans studieobjekt finns policyentreprenörer, samverkan mellan organisationer, nationella och kommunala åtgärder vid kriser samt samhällets beredskap.

Forskning

Pågående projekt:

LEGITIPREP: Boundaries of Legitimation. Crisis Normalization and Preparedness
• Roll: Biträdande projektledare
• Finansiär: Vetenskapsrådet
• Budget: 5,1 miljoner kronor
• Period: 2024–2027
• Parter: Mittuniversitetet (huvudman), Försvarshögskolan, NTNU Samfunnsforskning, Roskilde universitet, Karolinska institutet
https://www.miun.se/en/Research/research-projects/ongoing-research-projects/boundaries-of-legitimation-crisis-normalization-and-preparedness/

Nyligen avslutade projekt:

• FUTURESILIENCE: Creating future societal resilience through innovative, science-based co-creation labs. Horizon Europe, 2,9 miljoner euro, 2023–2025. Arbetspaketsledare.
• FOUNTAIN: Fostering sustainable university-industry techno-entrepreneurial collaborations and innovations in Asian universities. Erasmus+, 800 000 euro, 2023–2025. Biträdande projektledare.
• SECRA: Strengthening University-Enterprise Collaboration for Resilient Communities in Asia. Erasmus+, 976 000 euro, 2021–2023. Biträdande projektledare.
• RISE: Samhällelig resiliens i Sverige: styrning, sociala nätverk och lärande. Myndigheten för samhällsskydd och beredskap (MSB), 20 miljoner kronor, 2018–2022. Projektledare.

Jörgen ledde också det EU-finansierade projekt (Europeiska regionala utvecklingsfonden, 22,5 miljoner kronor) som byggde upp RCR Simulation Lab, en immersiv miljö för övningar och experiment inom krishantering och samhällsvetenskap.
https://www.miun.se/en/rcr-lab

Undervisning

Jörgen har undervisat vid Mittuniversitetet sedan 2004, på alla nivåer. Han undervisar i sociologisk teori, social nätverksanalys, organisations- och ledarskapsteori samt kvantitativ och kvalitativ metod, och i kurser inom risk- och krisforskning. Han grundade kandidatprogrammet i risk- och krishantering och var med och utvecklade masterprogrammet i sociologi med inriktning mot risk, resiliens och arbetsliv.

Pågående doktorander:
• Colin van den Akker (huvudhandledare): tvetydighet i överföring och kommunikation av vetenskaplig kunskap, 2023–

Avslutade doktorander:
• Per Becker (biträdande handledare), 2021, numera professor vid Lunds universitet
• Olov Hemmingsson (biträdande handledare), 2023, numera universitetslektor vid Mittuniversitetet
• Sophie Kolmodin (huvudhandledare), 2025, numera postdoktor vid Umeå universitet

Övrigt

Sedan 2018 är Jörgen Sveriges utsedda expert i European Science and Technology Advisory Group (E-STAG) vid FN:s kontor för katastrofriskreducering (UNDRR). Där var han bland annat vetenskaplig redaktör för UNDRR:s riktlinjer Words into Action om samspelet mellan vetenskap, politik och samhälle i katastrofriskreducering. Han är Sveriges landsexpert i Bertelsmann Stiftungs Sustainable Governance Indicators och biträdande redaktör för tidskriften European Societies.

https://www.undrr.org/about-undrr/where-we-work/regional-office-europe-central-asia/e-stag

https://www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/en/our-projects/sustainable-governance-indicators-sgi

https://direct.mit.edu/euso

Publikationer

Artiklar i tidskrifter

Grännsjö, S. , Petridou, E. , Sparf, J. & Weible, C. M. (2026). Coalitions and Characters : Tracing the Maturity of Sweden's Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism Policies. Review of Policy Research, vol. 43: 2    

Rubin, O. , Hemmingsson, O. , Petridou, E. & Sparf, J. (2026). From Policy Legitimization to Blame Avoidance—Discursive Strategies During Denmark's Mink Culling Crisis. Policy Studies Journal, vol. 54: 4  

Oscarsson, O. , Kolmodin, S. , Sparf, J. & Ioannides, D. (2026). Local resilience in Rural Northern Sweden : Challenges and Opportunities in Disaster Management. Natural Hazards, vol. 122: 5  

Petridou, E. , Sparf, J. & Zahariadis, N. (2025). The Policy Entrepreneur as a Crosscutting Concept in Theories of the Policy Process : A Scoping Review of European Empirical Applications. European Policy Analysis, vol. 11: 2, ss. 191-206.    

Petridou, E. , Sparf, J. & Shockley, G. (2025). Theoretical Advances in the Scholarship of Policy Entrepreneurship : Drawing From Disparate Literatures, Expanding the Empirical Field. European Policy Analysis, vol. 11: 3, ss. 298-302.  

Becker, P. , Sparf, J. & Petridou, E. (2024). Identifying proactive and reactive policy entrepreneurs in collaborative networks in flood risk management. Policy and Politics, vol. 52: 2, ss. 298-320.  

Zahariadis, N. , Karokis‐Mavrikos, V. , Exadaktylos, T. , Kyriakidis, A. , Sparf, J. & Petridou, E. (2023). Advancing the operationalization of national policy styles. European Policy Analysis, vol. 9: 3, ss. 200-218.  

Petridou, E. , Sparf, J. , Hemmingsson, O. & Pihl, K. (2023). Immersive simulation and experimental design in risk and crisis management : Implications for learning. Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management, vol. 31: 4, ss. 1009-1017.  

Zahariadis, N. , Petridou, E. , Exadaktylos, T. & Sparf, J. (2023). Policy styles and political trust in Europe’s national responses to the COVID-19 crisis. Policy Studies, vol. 44: 1, ss. 46-67.  

Zahariadis, N. , Exadaktylos, T. , Sparf, J. , Petridou, E. , Kyriakidis, A. & Papadopoulos, I. (2022). Assessing the effectiveness of public health interventions for Covid‐19 in Greece and Cyprus. European Policy Analysis, vol. 8: 3, ss. 345-359.    

Sparf, J. , Petridou, E. , Granberg, M. , Becker, P. & Onn, B. (2022). Pandemic responses at the subnational level : Exploring politics, administration, and politicization in Swedish municipalities. European Policy Analysis, vol. 8: 3, ss. 327-344.  

Petridou, E. , Becker, P. & Sparf, J. (2021). Policy Entrepreneurs in Public Administration : A Social Network Analysis. Politics and Policy, vol. 49: 2, ss. 414-445.    

Sparf, J. , Petridou, E. , Skog, F. , Kolmodin, S. & Ljungdahl, J. (2019). Experimental Design in Teaching Crisis and Emergency Management in Social Sciences : The Case of the RCR Lab at Mid Sweden University. International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters, vol. 37: 1, ss. 92-100.

Sparf, J. (2019). Interfaces in temporary multi-organizations in routine emergency management : The case of Stockholm. Safety Science, vol. 118: October 2019, ss. 702-708.  

Sparf, J. & Petridou, E. (2018). Collaborations in Routine Emergency Management : Lessons from Sweden. Procedia Engineering, vol. 212, ss. 302-308.    

Petridou, E. & Sparf, J. (2017). For safety’s sake : the strategies of institutional entrepreneurs and bureaucratic reforms in Swedish crisis management, 2001–2009. Policy & Society, vol. 36: 4, ss. 556-574.    

Sparf, J. (2016). Disability and Vulnerability : Interpretations of Risk in Everyday Life. Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management, vol. 24: 4, ss. 244-252.  

Guiliani, L. , Revez, A. , Sparf, J. , Jayasena, S. & Faber, M. H. (2016). SOCIAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF DISASTER RESILIENCE. International Journal of Strategic Property Management, vol. 20: 3, ss. 277-290.  

Faber, M. H. , Guiliani, L. , Revez, A. , Jayasena, S. , Sparf, J. & Mendez, J. M. (2014). Interdisciplinary Approach to Disaster Resilience Education and Research. Procedia Economics and Finance, vol. 18, ss. 601-609.    

Sparf, J. & Öhman, S. (2014). On Risk and Disability : Investigating the Influence of Disability and Social Capital on the Perception and Digital Communication of risk. Journal of Risk Analysis and Crisis Response, vol. 4: 1, ss. 20-33.

Artiklar, recensioner

Sparf, J. (2021). Jeffrey C. Alexander, What Makes a Social Crisis? The Societalization of Social Problems. International Review of Public Policy, vol. 3: 3, ss. 382-385.  

Böcker

Petridou, E. , Sparf, J. , Zahariadis, N. & Birkland, T. A. (2025). Policy Entrepreneurs, Crises, and Policy Change. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press (Cambridge Elements in Public Policy ).  

Doktorsavhandlingar

Sparf, J. (2014). Tillit i samhällsskyddets organisation : Om det sociala gränssnittet i risk- och krishantering mellan kommunen och funktionshindrade. Diss. (Sammanläggning) Östersund : Mittuniversitetet, 2014 (Mid Sweden University doctoral thesis : 202)  

Kapitel i böcker, del av antologier

Sparf, J. (2025). Disaster risk reduction: the evolution of an international agenda. I Handbook of Public Policy Agenda Setting. Edward Elgar Publishing. S. 365-382.  

Petridou, E. , Sparf, J. & Broqvist, H. (2023). Sweden : A Decentralized, Coordinated Response to the Pandemic. I Governments’ Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Europe : Navigating the Perfect Storm. Palgrave Macmillan.  

Sparf, J. (2022). Norwegian Corporatism : A Centripetal National Response to the Pandemic. I Policy Styles and Trust in the Age of Pandemics : Global Threat, National Responses. Routledge (Routledge Studies in Governance and Public Policy). S. 119-133.  

Zahariadis, N. , Petridou, E. , Exadaktylos, T. & Sparf, J. (2022). Policy Styles and Policy Making During Times of Crisis. I Policy Styles and Trust in the Age of Pandemics : Global Threat, National Responses. Routledge (Routledge Studies in Governance and Public Policy). S. 17-38.  

Zahariadis, N. , Petridou, E. , Exadaktylos, T. & Sparf, J. (2022). The Politics of National Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic. I Policy Styles and Trust in the Age of Pandemics : Global Threat, National Responses. Routledge (Routledge Studies in Governance and Public Policy). S. 3-16.  

Petridou, E. , Sparf, J. & Pihl, K. (2020). Resilience work in Swedish local governance : Evidence from the areas of climate change adaptation, migration, and violent extremism. I Understanding Disaster Risk : A Multidimensional Approach. Amsterdam : Elsevier. S. 225-238.  

Sparf, J. (2016). Kunskap och övningar för resiliens. I Katastrofriskreducering : Perspektiv, praktik, potential. Lund : Studentlitteratur AB. S. 385-412.

Sparf, J. (2015). Trust as an Opportunity in Public Risk and Crisis Management. I At the Crossroads of Crisis and Opportunity : Interdisciplinary Conversations. Inter-Disciplinary Press.

Sparf, J. (2013). The Risk and Crisis Management Relation between Local Authorities and Disabled People. I Finding Opportunities in Crises. Oxford : Inter-disciplinary.net (Probing the Boundaries). S. 139-148.

Sparf, J. (2013). Trust As An Element Of Public Risk And Crisis Management. I Finding opportunities in crisis. Oxford : Inter-Disciplinary Press.

Sparf, J. (2009). Funktionshindrade och risker. I Risker i det moderna samhället : Samhällsvetenskapliga perspektiv. Lund : Studentlitteratur. S. 217-236.

Sparf, J. (2009). Organisering av riskhantering. I Risker i det moderna samhället : Samhällsvetenskapliga perspektiv. Lund : Studentlitteratur. S. 139-168.

Sparf, J. (2009). Risk ur ett systemteoretiskt perspektiv. I Risker i det moderna samhället : Samhällsvetenskapliga perspektiv. Lund : Studentlitteratur. S. 121-138.

Konferensbidrag

Sparf, J. (2023). Studying Policy Processes in Wicked Problems : Conceptual and Operationalisation Challenges. Paper presented at the Conference on Policy Process Research (COPPR) 2023: Advancing Policy Process, Theories, and Methods

Petridou, E. , Becker, P. & Sparf, J. (2019). Entrepreneurial Bureaucrats : A Social Network Analysis of Lomma and Staffanstorp Municipalities, Sweden. I Proceedings.

Petridou, E. , Becker, P. & Sparf, J. (2019). Policy entrepreneurs and flood risk mitigation in Sweden : A structural analysis. I Proceedings.

Pihl, K. & Sparf, J. (2018). RCR Lab - Enhanced Learning In A Virtual And Physical Immersion Classroom, Part Of Producing Innovative Research For Regional Development. I 12Th International Technology, Education And Development Conference (Inted). (INTED Proceedings). S. 5298--5298.

Sparf, J. & Samor, L. (2017). Journeying Rurality - Individuals' Perspectives On Space And Place In The Scandinavian Inland. I INTED Proceedings.. S. 6873-

Danielsson, E. , Sparf, J. & Hemmingsson, O. (2017). Producing knowledge about extreme situations. Paper presented at the 3rd International Workshop Doing Reserach In Extreme Contest: What can be learned? IAE Paris Sorbonne Graduate Business School 10-20 of October 2017

Sparf, J. & Petridou, E. (2017). Virtual And Physical Immersion Classroom For Enhanced Learning In The Behavioural And Social Sciences. I INTED2017: 11TH INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE. (INTED Proceedings). S. 6835-

Sparf, J. & Petridou, E. (2015). Tidal wave: critical junctures, political agency and the shift of crisis management policy in Sweden, 2004-2009. I NEEDS - The First Northern European Conference on Emergency and Disaster Studies. University of Copenhagen, December 9-11, 2015.

Danielsson, E. & Sparf, J. (2014). Multi-organizational collaboration - A workshop experiment on how different professionals view an incident. I Proceedings of the 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference: Integrative Risk Management - The Role of Science, Technology and Practice, IDRC Davos 2014.. S. 192--195.

Sparf, J. (2013). The risk and crisis management relation between local authorities and disabled people. Paper presented at the OPPORTUNITY IN CRISIS Finding Benefits in Difficult Life Events

Sparf, J. (2013). The risk and crisis management relation between local authorities and disabled people. Paper presented at the Amsterdam Risk Conference

Sparf, J. (2007). Personal immobility in crises : GPMS - Göteborg Public Management Seminar - on risk and leadership.

Sparf, J. (2007). Risk, Disability and Resources : Sociologi i Sverige i Samtiden. Sveriges Sociologförbund.

Sparf, J. & Öhman, S. (2006). Resources and risk perception : XVI ISA World Congress of Sociology, Durban, South Africa, 23-29 July 2006.

Sparf, J. & Öhman, S. (2006). Risk perception among disabled people in Sweden: The role of social involvement and resources : New Perspectives on Risk Communication Uncertainty in a Complex Society. A Multi-Disciplinary International Research Conference. 31 August - 2 September, 2006 Göteborg, Sweden..

Sparf, J. (2006). Riskteoretiska perspektiv : Sveriges sociologförbunds årsmöteskonferens "Staden och Östeuropa".

Sparf, J. (2005). Information in times of chaos. I European Sociological Association, "Rethinking inequalities" Torun, Poland, 9 - 13 September, 2005.

Rapporter

Petridou, E. , Sparf, J. , Onn, B. , Jochem, S. & Schøyen, M. A. (2024). Sweden Report : Sustainable Governance Indicators 2024. Verlag Bertelsmann Stiftung    

Petridou, E. , Sparf, J. , Jochem, S. & Detlef, J. (. (2022). Sustainable Governance Indicators 2022 : Sweden Report. Verlag Bertelsmann Stiftung  

Sparf, J. , Petridou, E. , Granberg, M. & Onn, B. (2021). Kommunal organisering av pandemirespons : En realtidsstudie av lokal resiliens. MSB  

Sparf, J. & Petridou, E. (2021). Sweden Country Report. Stavanger : Universitetet i Stavanger (Rapporter fra UiS 98).  

Petridou, E. , Sparf, J. , Jochem, S. & Hustedt, T. (2021). Sweden Report : Sustainable Governance in the Context of the COVID-19 Crisis. Verlag Bertelsmann Stiftung (Sustainable Governance Indicators ).    

Sparf, J. , Petridou, E. , Landgren, J. & Lyckvi, S. (2019). Larmoperatörskluster: Organisering för samverkan i vardag och kris. Myndigheten för samhällsskydd och beredskap  

Sparf, J. & Petridou, E. (2019). Resilience in Practice : A Survey of Recent European Union Projects. (RCR Working Paper Series 2019:4).  

Sparf, J. & Migliorini, M. (2019). Socioeconomic and data challenges : Disaster risk reduction in Europe. Geneva : United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction    

Sparf, J. , Amaratunga, D. , Faber, M. , Haigh, R. , Indirli, M. , Kaklauskas,, A. , Lill, I. , Perdikou, S. & et al. (2015). Disaster Resilience Education and Research. Roadmap for Europe 2030.    

Sparf, J. (2015). Individens förmåga att ta ansvar för sin egen säkerhet : Särskilt utsatta grupper. Karlstad : Myndigheten för samhällsskydd och beredskap    

Danielsson, E. , Sparf, J. , Olof, O. & Karlsson, R. (2015). Sektorsövergripande samverkan vid kriser. Karlstad : (MSB Rapportserie MSB894).  

Danielsson, E. , Sparf, J. , Karlsson, R. & Oscarsson, O. (2015). Sektorsövergripande samverkan vid kriser. Östersund : Mittuniversitetet (RCR Working Paper Series 2015:2).  

Demarin, E. , Danielsson, E. , Eliasson, L. , Johansson, R. , Olofsson, A. , Sparf, J. & Öhman, S. (2010). Samhällsvetenskapliga perspektiv på risk och kris : Uppfattning, kommunikation och organisation..  

Samlingsverk (redaktör)

Zahariadis, N. (ed.) , Petridou, E. (ed.) , Exadaktylos, T. (ed.) & Sparf, J. (ed.) (2022). Policy Styles and Trust in the Age of Pandemics : Global Threat, National Responses. Routledge (Routledge Studies in Governance and Public Policy ).  

Sidan uppdaterades 2026-10-25