Gustav Lidén

Universitetslektor|Senior Lecturer

Background

Gustav Lidén (Ph.D. in Political Science, 2011) has a background in comparative politics with a specific interest in the local political arena. During 2012 and 2013, he was a postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Social Sciences at Mid Sweden University. Since 2014, Lidén has been an Associate Professor (Docent) in Political Science at Mid Sweden University.

He has been a visiting scholar at Åbo Akademi University (2012), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (2021/2022) and University of Potsdam (2024).

His work has been published in journals such as Democratization, European Political Science Review, Local Government Studies and Regulation & Governance.

One of his most recent research contribution is a monography titled Local Migration Policy - Governance Structures and Policy Output in Swedish Municipalities (Palgrave MacMillan, 2022).

Another recent publication is the textbook introducing mixed methods: Att använda mixade metoder: En introduktion (Studentlitteratur, 2023)

Area of interest

Lidén's research focuses on the local political arena, where he conducts comparative examinations of governance and policy output. His areas of particular coverage include:

• Local migration and integration policy.
• Welfare policy.
• Digitalization of political processes.

Additionally, Lidén has a keen interest in research methods related to mixed methods approaches

Teaching and tutoring

Lidén's teaching has ranged from undergraduate level to courses for PhD students.

Other information

Lidén is director of studies for third-cycle education at the Faculty of Humanities.

Extra contact information

Personal website

Link to short CV

Twitter

Google Scholar

For more information about recent books see:

Local Migration Policy - Governance Structures and Policy Output in Swedish Municipalities

Att använda mixade metoder: En introduktion

Publications

Articles in journals

Högström, J. & Lidén, G. (2024). Does the level of descriptive representation of women have any consequences for policy spending?. International Journal of Comparative Sociology,    

Ehrhart, A. , Wallman Lundåsen, S. & Lidén, G. (2024). Examining the relationship between women’s descriptive political representation and women’s possibility to participate in civil society across regime types. Journal of Civil Society, vol. 20: 2, pp. 150-169.  

Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2024). The governance of policy integration and policy coordination through joined‐up government : How subnational levels counteract siloism and fragmentation within Swedish migration policy. Regulation and Governance, vol. 18: 3, pp. 934-952.  

Högström, J. & Lidén, G. (2023). Do party politics still matter? : Examining the effect of parties, governments and government changes on the local tax rate in Sweden. European Political Science Review, vol. 15: 2, pp. 235-253.  

Karlström, D. , Lidén, G. & Sundberg, L. (2023). Explaining variations in the implementation and use of e-petitions in local government. Information Polity, vol. 28: 4, pp. 503-521.  

Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2023). Local variations in integration policies : Experiences from the perspectives of immigrants in Sweden. International Journal of Border Security and Immigration Policy, vol. 7: 3, pp. 254-271.  

Holmqvist, E. , Jutvik, K. & Lidén, G. (2022). Resilience in Local Housing Policy? : Liberal or Restrictive Policy Stances Among Swedish Municipalities Following the Great Migration in the Summer of 2015. Frontiers in Political Science, vol. 4  

Lund, P. , Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, S. (2022). Who talks and who listens? A qualitative analysis of citizen dialogues in rural Sweden. Local Government Studies, vol. 48: 1, pp. 129-149.    

Lidén, G. & Olofsson, A. (2020). Living in a foreign country : The meaning of place of origin and gender for risk perceptions, experiences, and behaviors. Journal of Risk Research, vol. 23: 3, pp. 365-378.    

Lidén, G. , Nyhlén, J. & Nyhlén, S. (2019). Neoliberal Steering in Swedish Integration Policy : the Rise and Fall of Introduction Guides. Scandinavian Journal of Public Administration, vol. 23: 1, pp. 23-40.    

Brännström, L. , Giritli Nygren, K. , Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2018). Lived Experiences of Changing Integration Policies: : Immigrant Narratives of Institutional Support and Labour Market Inclusion/Exclusion in Sweden. Nordic Journal of Migration Research, vol. 8: 1, pp. 25-34.    

Lidén, G. & Larsson, A. O. (2016). From 1.0 to 2.0 : Swedish municipalities online. Journal of Information Technology & Politics, vol. 13: 4, pp. 339-351.  

Lidén, G. (2016). Inequality in local digital politics : How different preconditions for citizen engagement can be explained. Policy & Internet, vol. 8: 3, pp. 270-291.  

Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2016). Structure and Agency in Swedish Municipalities’ Reception of Unaccompanied Minors. The Journal of Refugee Studies, vol. 29: 1, pp. 39-59.  

Lidén, G. , Nyhlén, J. & Nyhlén, S. (2015). Forced cooperation from above : The case of Sweden's establishment reform. Policy Studies, vol. 36: 5, pp. 468-486.  

Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2015). Reception of refugees in Swedish municipalities : evidences from comparative case studies. Migration and Development, vol. 4: 1, pp. 55-71.  

Lidén, G. (2015). Technology and democracy : Validity in measurements of e-democracy. Democratization, vol. 22: 4, pp. 698-713.  

Bolin, N. , Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2014). Do Anti-immigration Parties Matter? The Case of the Sweden Democrats and Local Refugee Policy. Scandinavian Political Studies, vol. 37: 3, pp. 323-343.  

Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2014). Explaining Local Swedish Refugee Policy. Journal of International Migration and Integration, vol. 15: 3, pp. 547-565.    

Nyhlén, J. & Lidén, G. (2014). Methods for analyzing decision-making : a framework approach. Quality and quantity, vol. 48: 5, pp. 2523-2535.    

Lidén, G. (2014). Theories of Dictatorships : Sub-Types and Explanations. Studies of Transition States and Societies, vol. 6: 1, pp. 50-67.    

Lidén, G. & Giritli Nygren, K. (2013). Analysing the intersections between technology, performativities and politics : The case of local citizen dialogue. Transformations, : 23    

Lidén, G. (2013). Supply of and demand for e-democracy : A study of the Swedish case. Information Polity, vol. 18: 3, pp. 217-232.  

Lidén, G. (2013). What about theory? : The consequences on a widened perspective of social theory. Quality and quantity, vol. 47: 1, pp. 213-225.    

Lidén, G. (2012). Is e-democracy more than democratic? : An examination of the implementation of socially sustainable values in e-democratic processes. Electronic Journal of e-Government, vol. 10: 1, pp. 84-94.    

Articles, book reviews

Nyhlén, J. & Lidén, G. (2018). Bokanmälan : Alexander Betts & Paul Collier: Refuge– Transforming a Broken Refugee System, Felipe Amin Filomeno: Theories of Local ImmigrationPolicy. Statsvetenskaplig Tidskrift, : 1  

Books

Lidén, G. (2023). Att använda mixade metoder : en introduktion. Lund : Studentlitteratur AB

Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2022). Local Migration Policy : Governance Structures and Policy Output in Swedish Municipalities. Cham : Palgrave Macmillan  

Chapters in books

Hudson, C. , Giritli Nygren, K. , Lidén, G. & Sandberg, L. (2020). Between Central Control and Local Autonomy : The Changing Role of Swedish Municipalities in the Implementation of Integration Policies. In Local Integration of Migrants Policy : European Experiences and Challenges. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 11-34.  

Lidén, G. (2018). Challenges of Digital Politics at the Subnational Level in Sweden : Descriptions and Explanations of Social Media Usage. In Sub-National Democracy and Politics Through Social Media. Cham : Springer. pp. 47-62.  

Lidén, G. (2018). Integrationspolitik i lokala valkampanjer. In Snabbtänkt : Reflektioner från valet 2018 av ledande forskare. Sundsvall : Mid Sweden University, DEMICOM. pp. 77-78.  

Lidén, G. (2018). Progress in Global Assessments of E-Democracy : Refined Measurements and New Findings. In International E-Government Development : Policy, Implementation and Best Practice. Hampshire : Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 215-238.  

Andresen, E. , Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, S. (2017). Skärningspunkter som grund. In Hållbarhetens många ansikter : samtal, forskning och fantasier. Sundsvall : Mid Sweden University (Genusstudier vid Mittuniversitetet). pp. 12-17.  

Eikelboom Sällström, A. , Haj Mohammed, A. & Lidén, G. (2017). Tre tankar om integration. In Hållbarhetens många ansikten : samtal, forskning och fantasier. Sundsvall : Mid Sweden University (Genusstudier vid Mittuniversitetet). pp. 96-100.  

Lidén, G. (2016). Digitala former för politik i lokalsamhället. In Thule : Kung. Skytteanska Samfundets Årsbok 2016. Umeå : Kungl. Skytteanska Samfundet (Kungl. Skytteanska Samfundets årsbok THULE).

Lidén, G. (2016). Is e-democracy more than democratic? : An examination of the implementation of socially sustainable values in an e-Democratic processes. In Leading Issues in e-Government Research : Volume 2: for Researchers, Teachers and Students. Reading : Academic Conferences and Publishing International Limited. pp. 171-193.

Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2015). Lokalt flyktingmottagande : strukturer, aktörer och processer. In Lokalt beslutsfattande. Lund : Studentlitteratur AB.

Lidén, G. (2013). Qualities of e-democracy : Examples from Sweden. In Participatory Democratic Innovations in Europe : Improving the Quality of Democracy?. Opladen : Verlag Barbara Budrich. pp. 225-248.

Larsson, A. & Lidén, G. (2013). Är en region alltid regional?. In Regioner, regionalism och entreprenörskap : Festskrift till Marie-Louise von Bergmann-Winberg. Sundsvall : Mittuniversitetet. pp. 29-47.

Lindblad Gidlund, K. , Giritli Nygren, K. & Liden, G. (2011). Swedish eGovernment in Public Use. In Information Society and Globalization : Transformation of politics. Zagrep : Political Science Research Centre (Series of Political Science Research Centre Forum). pp. 93-124.

Collections (editor)

Andresen, E. (ed.) , Lidén, G. (ed.) & Nyhlén, S. (ed.) (2017). Hållbarhetens många ansikten - samtal, forskning och fantasier. Sundsvall : Mittuniversitetet (Genusstudier vid Mittuniversitetet 13).  

Conference papers

Nyhlén, J. & Lidén, G. (2022). Policy Integration and Coordination of Complex Societal Problems : The Case of Swedish Local Migration Policy. Paper presented at the Statsvetenskapliga förbundets årsmöte 2022, Örebro, 28-30 september, 2022

Lidén, G. & Högström, J. (2022). Reasons to Tax Changes : Effects of Regime Changes on the Local Tax Rate Across Autonomous Local Governments. Paper presented at the 79th Annual Midwest Political Science Association Conference, [DIGITAL], April 7-10, 2022.

Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2022). Siloed Governments and Fragmented Policies : Can Policy Integration and Coordination Remedy Wicked Problems?. Paper presented at the 79th Annual Midwest Political Science Association Conference, [DIGITAL], April 7-10, 2022.

Jutvik, K. , Holmqvist, E. & Lidén, G. (2021). Housing policy as a tool for migration control : Liberal or restrictive policy stances among Swedish municipalities after the European migrant crisis. Paper presented at the The annual conference of the Swedish Political Association, [DIGITAL], 29-30 september, 2021

Holmqvist, E. , Jutvik, K. & Lidén, G. (2021). Local housing policy for immigrants : Liberal or restrictive policy stances among Swedish municipalities after the European migrant crisis. Paper presented at the European Network for Housing Research Conference [DIGITAL],30 Aug – 02 Sep, 2021

Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2021). Policy Integration and Coordination in Governance of Swedish Migration Policy. Paper presented at the The annual conference of the Swedish Political Association, [DIGITAL], September 29 - October 1, 2021.  

Nyhlén, J. & Lidén, G. (2020). Governing Local Integration Policy : Evidence from Local Case Studies. Paper presented at the The annual SWEPSA Conference, DIGITAL, Sundsvall, 30 September - 2 October 2020

Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2020). Governing Migration and Integration Policy : Challenges, tensions and actors in the Swedish case. Paper presented at the the 17th IMISCOE Annual Conference

Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2020). Local Governments under Pressure : Migration Policy among Swedish Municipalities in the wake of the European Migrant Crisis. Paper presented at the 14th ECPR General Conference

Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2020). Local Migration and Integration Policy in Sweden - Processes and Outcomes. Paper presented at the 17th IMISCOE Annual Conference

Lund, P. , Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, S. (2020). Who talks and who listens? : analyzing citizen dialogs in a rural context. Paper presented at the Swedish Political Science Association Annual Conference, Sundsvall, September 30 - October 2, 2020.

Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2019). Governing Swedish Migration and Integration Policy. Paper presented at the The annual conference of the Swedish Political Science Association, Norrköping, October 2-4, 2019

Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2019). Reception of immigrants among Swedish municipalities. Paper presented at the The annual conference of the Swedish Political Science Association, Norrköping, October 2-4, 2019

Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2018). A framework for governance of local migration policy : Assumptions and theoretical consequences. Paper presented at the 27th Annual Conference of the Society for Risk Analysis Europe, Östersund, June 18-20 2018

Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2018). How to understand governance of local migration policy : The creation of a theoretical framework. Paper presented at the The annual meeting of the Swedish Political Science Association, Malmö University, October 3-5, 2018

Lundgren, M. & Lidén, G. (2018). Not in my backyard : Integration and xenophobia in a local housing project in Östersund. Paper presented at the 27th Annual Conference of the Society for Risk Analysis Europe, Östersund, June 18-20, 2018

Nyhlén, J. , Nyhlén, S. & Lidén, G. (2017). Governing through public and private relations : The case of Swedish integration policy. Paper presented at the Statsvetenskapliga förbundets årsmöte, Karlstad, 4-6 oktober, 2017

Nyhlén, S. , Lidén, G. & Bolin, N. (2017). When social inequality goes beyond the nation state : analyzing how Swedish municipalities handle vulnerable EU-migrants. Paper presented at the 11th ECPR General Conference, Oslo, 6-9 september, 2017

Lidén, G. , Nyhlén, J. & Nyhlén, S. (2016). Challenging Steering : Public and Private relations within Swedish integration policy. Paper presented at the 10th ECPR General Conference, Prag 7-10 September, 2016

Brännström, L. , Giritli Nygren, K. , Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2016). Lived biographies of changing integration regimes : Migrant narratives ofinstitutional support and labor market in/exclusion in Sweden. Paper presented at the the 18th Nordic Migration Conference, Oslo, 11-12 August, 2016

Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2016). Local varieties in integration policies : Experiences from the perspective of immigrants in Sweden. Paper presented at the the XXV meeting of the Nordic Municipality research Conference, Oslo, November 24-25.

Lidén, G. , Nyhlén, J. & Nyhlén, S. (2016). Steering of integration policy : Public Private Relations within the Swedish Case. Paper presented at the 18th Nordic Migration Conference, 11-12 August 2016, Oslo

Lidén, G. (2015). Assessing countries' success in digital politics – still a lot more to be explained. Paper presented at the Swedish Political Science Association, Stockholm, October 14-16, 2015.

Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2015). Lokal migrationspolitik : Om flyktingmottagande och integration i svenska kommuner. . Paper presented at the Bosetting av flyktninger. Statsvitenskapelige perspektiver på offentlig styring, lokal politikk og integrering. Hvor står forskningen? Oslo,

Denk, T. & Lidén, G. (2015). The Mechanistic Turn : Recent Trends in the Methodological Literature. Paper presented at the 2nd International Conference on Public Policy.July 2015, Milan, Italy.

Bolin, N. & Lidén, G. (2015). The non-receivers : Explanations as to why some Swedish municipalities resist refugee reception. Paper presented at the 2nd International Conference on Public Policy, July 2015, Milan, Italy.

Lidén, G. (2015). The policy making of digital politics : Examining the local level in Sweden. Paper presented at the 2nd International Conference on Public Policy, July 2015, Milan, Italy.

Lidén, G. , Nyhlén, J. & Nyhlén, S. (2014). Contradictions in government steering : analyzing the Swedish establishment reform. Paper presented at the XVII Nordic Political Science Association Conference, August 12-15, 2014, Gothenburg.

Bolin, N. & Lidén, G. (2014). Disagreeing with the nation state : Why some Swedish municipalities refuse refugee reception. Paper presented at the 4th Annual General Conference of the European Political Science Association (EPSA), Edinburgh, 19-21 June 2014

Bolin, N. , Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2014). Local refugee reception and the impact of the Sweden Democrats. Paper presented at the 4th Nordic Populism Network meeting, Sundsvall, March 18-19 2014

Bolin, N. & Lidén, G. (2014). Obstructing national policy. The case of Swedish municipalities and refugee reception. Paper presented at the XVII Nordic Political Science Association Conference, August 12-15, 2014, Gothenburg.

Lidén, G. (2013). Adding Validity and New Results to the Global Explanations of e-democracy. Paper presented at the 7th ECPR General Conference Bordeaux, September 4-7, 2013

Bolin, N. , Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2013). Anti-immigration party impact on local migration policy in Sweden. Paper presented at the Swedish Political Science Association (SWEPSA) annual meeting, Stockholm, 2-4 October, 2013.

Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2013). Evidence of Swedish municipalities' reception of unaccompanied minors : A multi-method approach. Paper presented at the 1st International Conference on Public Policy, Grenoble, June 26-28, 2013.

Bolin, N. , Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2013). Political Parties and Local Refugee Reception in Sweden. Paper presented at the XXII Nordiska kommunforskarkonferensen, Åbo, 21-23 November, 2013.    

Lidén, G. , Nyhlén, J. & Nyhlén, S. (2013). Public and private networks in a multi-level perspective : A case of Swedish migration policy. Paper presented at the the XXII Nordic Municipality Research Conference (NORKOM), November 21-23, Åbo, 2013.  

Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2012). Reception of refugees in Sweden. Paper presented at the Swedish Political Science Association, 26-28 September, 2012, Växjö.

Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2012). Refugee Policy and Local Decision-Making : Comparative Case studies from Sweden. Paper presented at the XXI NORKOM, the Nordic Municipality Research Conference,22-24 November, 2012, Oslo.

Nyhlén, J. & Lidén, G. (2011). Decision-Making in a Governance Context : An Analytical Framework. Paper presented at the XX NORKOM, Nordiska kommunforskningskonferensen, Göteborg 24-25 november 2011

Lidén, G. (2011). Theoretical foundations for analyzing dictatorships. In Annual meeting of the Swedish Political Science Association, Umeå University 27-28 October 2011.

Lindblad Gidlund, K. , Giritli Nygren, K. & Lidén, G. (2010). Swedish eGovernment in public use. In Information Society and Globalisation: Transformation of Politics, 22 October 2010,  Dubrovnik.

Doctoral theses

Lidén, G. (2011). Från demokrati till e-demokrati : En jämförande studie av demokratiutveckling i det moderna samhället. Dis. Sundsvall : Mittuniversitetet, 2011 (Mid Sweden University doctoral thesis : 107)  

Licentiate theses, monographs

Lidén, G. (2008). Variationer i demokrati : En kvantitativ studie som utvärderar tänkbara förklaringar. Lic. Åbo : Åbo Akademis Förlag, 2008

Other

Nyhlén, J. & Lidén, G. (2022). Evidence from Sweden : How local governments shape migration policies.  

Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2022). Ge kommuner mer inflytande över flyktingmottagandet.  

Lidén, G. , Nyhlén, S. , Löfqvist, M. & Ringbro, A. (2022). Hur samordnande insatser kan underlätta integrationsprocesser : Sundsvalls Tidning..  

Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2021). Lokala positioner flyttas fram i invandringsfrågan. Stockholm : Liberal Debatt..  

Lidén, G. , Nyhlén, J. , Nyhlén, S. & Qvist, M. (2019). Marknadsreformer innebär stora utmaningar (Publikt).  

Brännström, L. , Giritli Nygren, K. , Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2016). Röster som borde höras : migranters syn på integrationspolitik. Sundsvall (Sundsvalls tidning).  

Lidén, G. (2016). Why do some local authorities have such poor websites? : Insights from Sweden.  

Bolin, N. , Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2014). SD har makt över lokal flyktingpolitik (Dagens Samhälle).  

Reports

Lidén, G. , Holmqvist, E. , Jacobsson, J. , Jutvik, K. & Nyhlén, J. (2024). Grindvakt för de oönskade? : En kunskapsöversikt kring länken mellan kommunalbostadspolitik och bosättningen av socialt utsatta grupper. Mid Sweden University (RCR Working Paper Series 2024:2).  

Lidén, G. , Holmqvist, E. , Jacobsson, J. , Jutvik, K. & Nyhlén, J. (2024). Grindvakt för de oönskade? : En kunskapsöversikt kring länken mellan kommunalbostadspolitik och bosättningen av socialt utsatta grupper. Stockholm : (Formas Policybrief ).

Nyhlén, J. & Lidén, G. (2023). Lokal migrationspolitik : Om strukturer, aktörer och processer i svenska kommuner. Stockholm : (Delmi Policy Brief 2023:3).  

Blombäck, S. & Lidén, G. (2023). Slutrapport Demokratiska innovationer på lokal nivå : Framtagen i samverkan med Timrå kommun och Örnsköldsviks kommun. Sundsvall : Mid Sweden University  

Öhman, P. , Giritli Nygren, K. , Hörnberg, E. , Lidén, G. , Nyhlén, S. , Sjöberg, I. & Wahlberg, O. (2017). Förstärkt stadsmiljö i Sundvall. Sundsvall : Mid Sweden University  

Brännström, L. , Giritli Nygren, K. , Lidén, G. & Nyhlén, J. (2016). Invandring till jobb : Mottagande och etablering bland utrikes födda i Västernorrlands län. Sundsvall : Mittuniversitetet (RCR Working Paper Series 2016:1).  

Bellman, L. , Gebert-Persson, S. , Öhman, P. , Giritli Nygren, K. , Nyhlén, S. , Olofsdotter, G. , Kvarnlöf, L. , Lidén, G. & et al. (2015). Att vända det onda till gott : möjligheter till nytänkande i mellersta Norrland till följd av den demografiska förändringen. Sundsvall : Mittuniversitetet (RCR Working Paper Series 2015:1).  

Lidén, G. , Nyhlén, J. & Wallman-Lundåsen, S. (2012). Engagemang och motivation bland politiker i Västernorrlands landstingsfullmäktige. Sundsvall : Avdelningen för statsvetenskap, Mittuniversitetet  

Lidén, G. (2011). Democracy and Diffusion : Creating a Comprehensive Model for Explaining Democracy. Östersund : Mid Sweden University (Social Science Reports from Mid Sweden University 4).  

The page was updated 5/28/2024