A Discourse Analysis on the Swedish Non-Ratification of the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention - A Critical Postcolonial Perspective

ILO 169 – Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention - is an international treaty that deals exclusively with the rights of indigenous peoples. Sweden is a country that normally commits to human rights and international treaties. However, it is still one of the countries that has not ratified ILO 169. By conducting a critical discourse analysis with a postcolonial approach, this study problematizes and gives a new perspective to the Swedish non-ratification of ILO 169. The Swedish – Sami relationship is part of the darker chapters of the Swedish history. This study aims to understand parts of this relation from a postcolonial perspective. The postcolonial approach is built on postcolonial theories and the concept of internal colonialism. The focus of this study is the governmental report SOU 1999:25 as well as the latest parliamentary discussion concerning a Swedish ratification of ILO 169. This study gives a new perspective of how the Swedish non-ratification is affected by the process of internal colonialism that is characterized by irresolution. The capitalist market forces and history writing as a grand narrative also seem to have an effect on the Swedish non-ratification.