In this dissertation (written in Swedish), I have tried to answer the question ”Which attitudes and values are expressed in the metaphores that Lars Ohly and Göran Hägglund uses in the debate of unemployement?” I have studied the metaphores used when they mention the question of unemployement, but also when they talk about their respective political parties’ politics and the other party’s political standpoint.
One of my hypothesis was that the choice of metaphores conceals attitudes and values that are not so apparent for an unreflected listening. Though, in some aspects, my reserach has shown that some of the metaphores openly signals attitudes and values. Not the least when they try to give each other negative values. And yet, some values are not as apparent, it takes some reflection to notice them. One interesting thing, though, is, that they both tries to givet hem selves attitudes and values built upon solidarity, compassion and understanding – meanwhile they both tries to attach the oposing values upon each other.
Another hypothesis was that I also would be able to se frames that could show underlying attitudes and values. In some ways I did find this. Ohly, as well as Hägglund, shows examples of ”overall-frames” and systems of metaphores which can affect the way we percept our world and also the way we chose to act and make decisions. Ohly creates a frame for the unemployed as innocent victims, who powerlessly faces outer forces, while Hägglund concentrates his frame around the need of good conditions for companies. These two different attitudes towards the question of unemployement creates different alternatives on how to decide and act.
It is hard to draw a short conclusion in an analysis as this one, since the richness of the metahpores used can be interpreted as different values and attitudes. One conclusion is that values and attitudes are characarized whith multitude.