The aim of the study was to investigate how preschool teachers perceive and apply democracy in swedish preschools. the aim of the study was to detect how preschool teachers apply a democratic approach with regard to the compexity of the democracy mission. To investigate the purpose of the study, a qualitative study was conducted using interviews as a data collection method seven preschool teachers were interviewed. The study is based on a phenomenological research approach that makes the perceptions of preschoolers visible with a distance from my own perceptions. The theoretical perspective of the study is based on Foucault's theories of power and discipline, which has broadened the understanding of the relationship between children and educators as permissive to children's influence and participation. 

The results indicated that preschool teachers associated democracy to be favorably and they believed that the mission of democracy is of great importance. The study showed that the concept of democracy in preschools is synonymous with children's participation and influence, and that preschool teachers believe that it is a democratic approach that forms the basis to practice democracy. They believed that it is of great importance to allow children to make their voices heard and to look after the needs and interests of children as part of the democracy mission. The study also showed that there are difficulties in applying democracy in preschools since the concept is often taken for granted without being defined. The teachers also intended that they must control the influence of children and sometimes act authoritarianly to create order and maintain control over the children.