The three largest storms in Sweden in modern time (1954, 1969 and 2005) are in focus in this thesis. By doing a narrative analysis of the countries four leading newspapers, the aim is to find out what stories are constructed during and after big crises such as storms. And more specifically what those narratives say about Sweden, being looked at in a historical rearview window. The result shows that the people of Sweden are portrayed as gender conservatives and that they are all ethnic swedes. There are no room for immigrants in the narratives.

The narrative concerning every storm differs though, depending how the inhabitants act. In 1954 Sweden is portraited as a nation where everybody do things together and helps out. During the storm 1969 ordinary peoples efforts are no longer requested. The state promises to take care of everything. When it can´t keep its promises voices from the media and the government are requesting an even stronger state. But in 2005 there have been an era of liberalisation and deregulation. Private companies are now in charge of the electric power supply. After the storm the power is out in many places and people behave differently. Some are passive and demands that the electricity works, other are doing the best of the situation. People are more active on the countryside than in the cities. All are however blaming the electricity companies. But what we see is a more fragmented country than before, where the biggest victims are the small foresters who in many cases have lost everything, they own. They were victims even in the earlier storms, but in 1969, when Sweden, in many ways, was a world leading country the foresters’ stories were not to be heard. In 2005 the forest farmers story are once again told, they who loses everything and, in some cases, commit suicide. They stand as reminders of the old and very poor Sweden, an outskirt in the world. This narrative can have its explanation in the assumption that when the times are uncertain, or changing, a nation looks at its history.