Jörgen Sparf

Docent|Associate Professor

Professional title: Associate Professor
Academic title: Associate Professor
Other title: PhD, MA, MFA
Area of responsibility: Director of the RCR Lab, www.miun.se/en/rcr-lab
Department: Department of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSV)
Telephone: +46 (0)10-1428276
Email: jorgen.sparf@miun.se
Room number: P3205
Location: Östersund
Research centers: Risk and Crisis Research Centre
Employee in the subject: Sociology

Jörgen Sparf is an associate professor of Sociology at Mid Sweden University. He is a founding member of the Risk and Crisis Research Centre, www.miun.se/en/rcr.

Jörgen is Sweden's appointed representative in the European Science and Technology Advisory Group of the United Nations office for Disaster Risk Reduction (https://www.preventionweb.net/organizations/27123). He is also representing the Risk and Crisis Research Centre in the Global Alliance of Disaster Research Institutes, GADRI (http://gadri.net).

Area of interest

Jörgen's theoretical interests are relational sociology, organization theory, social networks, and theories pertaining to disaster and resilience, vulnerability and capacity. He conducts empirical research mainly in the broad field of crisis and disaster studies, for example social network analysis, critical resilience studies, and vulnerability and capacity issues.

Research

Jörgen has been involved in a large number of projects and is currently the PI/project leader for the following research projects:

Title: Resilience in Sweden: Governing, Social Networks and Learning
Budget: 2.5 Million Euro
Funder: The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency
Running time: 2018–2022
Website: www.miun.se/en/rcr/RISE

Title: Strengthening University-Enterprise Collaboration for
Resilient Communities in Asia (SECRA)
Budget: 1 Million Euro
Funder: ERASMUS+ of the European Commission
Running time: 2021–2023
Website: www.drrcollab.org

A major achievement in Jörgen's career is the unique immersive environment of the RCR Simulation Lab. He was the project manager for the EU-funded development of the lab and remains the director—more information on the website www.miun.se/en/rcr-lab.

Teaching and tutoring

With more than 15 years at the university, Jörgen has extensive experience as a supervisor and instructor on all university levels. He has taught sociological theory, social network analysis, critical thinking, and methods. His teaching in applied fields has mainly been in organisation, leadership, risk and crisis management.

Jörgen currently supervises three doctoral researchers:

Olov Hemmingsson, on his project researching risk regulation regimes in the case of head injuries in Swedish ice hockey (2017-).
Sophie Kolmodin, on her research of civil society organisations in the field of immigrant reception and social resilience (2018-).
Simone Grännsjö, on her studies of policies to combat radicalisation and violent extremism on a local level (2021-).

Jörgen has supervised one student to completion: Dr Per Becker, currently working at Lund University.

Jörgen has held administrative positions as Programme Director and Director of Studies for a total of 15 years. He is the founder of the undergraduate programme in risk and crisis management at Mid Sweden University.

Above his PhD and MA in sociology, Jörgen holds a teachers degree, Master of Fine Arts and Education, from Lund University with the clarinet as his principal instrument.

Other information

Jörgen is the director of the RCR Simulation Lab www.miun.se/en/rcr-lab.

Research projects

Current

Resilience in Sweden: Governance, Social Networks and Learning (RISE)

SECRA – Strengthening University-Enterprise Collaboration for Resilient Communities in Asia

Finished

Local networks for safety and security

ASCENT (Advancing Skill Creation to Enhance Transformation)

Multi-organizational co-operation in response to ordinary emergencies

Risk and Security Governance Studies within Baltic-Nordic Academic Communities of Practices (Risk-Net)

Publications

Articles in journals
Chapters in books
Collections (editor)
Conference papers
Doctoral theses, comprehensive summaries
Reports

Articles in journals

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, pp. 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, pp. 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, pp. 327-344.

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

Petridou, E. , Becker, P. & Sparf, J. (2021). Policy Entrepreneurs in Public Administration : A Social Network Analysis. Politics and Policy, vol. 49: 2, pp. 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, pp. 92-100.

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

Sparf, J. & Petridou, E. (2018). Collaborations in Routine Emergency Management : Lessons from Sweden. Procedia Engineering, vol. 212, pp. 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, pp. 556-574.

Sparf, J. (2016). Disability and Vulnerability : Interpretations of Risk in Everyday Life. Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management, vol. 24: 4, pp. 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, pp. 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, pp. 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, pp. 20-33.

Chapters in books

Petridou, E. , Sparf, J. & Broqvist, H. (2023). Sweden : A Decentralized, Coordinated Response to the Pandemic. In 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. In Policy Styles and Trust in the Age of Pandemics : Global Threat, National Responses. Routledge (Routledge Studies in Governance and Public Policy). pp. 119-133.

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

Zahariadis, N. , Petridou, E. , Exadaktylos, T. & Sparf, J. (2022). POLICY STYLES AND POLICYMAKING DURING TIMES OF CRISIS. In Policy Styles and Trust in the Age of Pandemics : Global Threat, National Responses. Taylor & Francis. pp. 17-38.

Zahariadis, N. , Petridou, E. , Exadaktylos, T. & Sparf, J. (2022). The Politics of National Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic. In Policy Styles and Trust in the Age of Pandemics : Global Threat, National Responses. Routledge (Routledge Studies in Governance and Public Policy). pp. 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. In Understanding Disaster Risk : A Multidimensional Approach. Amsterdam : Elsevier. pp. 225-238.

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

Sparf, J. (2015). Trust as an Opportunity in Public Risk and Crisis Management. In 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. In Finding Opportunities in Crises. Oxford : Inter-disciplinary.net (Probing the Boundaries). pp. 139-148.

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

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

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

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

Collections (editor)

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 ).

Conference papers

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. In Proceedings.

Petridou, E. , Becker, P. & Sparf, J. (2019). Policy entrepreneurs and flood risk mitigation in Sweden : A structural analysis. In 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. In 12Th International Technology, Education And Development Conference (Inted). (INTED Proceedings). pp. 5298--5298.

Sparf, J. & Samor, L. (2017). Journeying Rurality - Individuals' Perspectives On Space And Place In The Scandinavian Inland. In INTED Proceedings.. pp. 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. In INTED2017: 11TH INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE. (INTED Proceedings). pp. 6835-

Sparf, J. & Petridou, E. (2015). Tidal wave: critical junctures, political agency and the shift of crisis management policy in Sweden, 2004-2009. In 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. In Proceedings of the 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference: Integrative Risk Management - The Role of Science, Technology and Practice, IDRC Davos 2014.. pp. 192--195.

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

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. (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. In European Sociological Association, "Rethinking inequalities" Torun, Poland, 9 - 13 September, 2005.

Doctoral theses, comprehensive summaries

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

Reports

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

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

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..