The Swedish Private Security Archipelago: transnationalization, technology, and industry change A mixed-methods study of the transnational commercialisation of security provision in Sweden

Abstract

This project will explore the internationalisation of the Swedish private security industry in the contemporary period. The mixed methods research project employs qualitative and quantitative register-data research and ethnographic interviews of working private security guards, or vaktare and ‘safety-entrepeneurs,’ or trygghetsentreprenör. Looking at the internationalisation both here in Sweden in the working profession as well as the business model allows for a multilayered contextually informed project in who, how, and in what ways ‘safety’ and ‘security’ are commodified, marketed, and provided in Sweden.

Keywords

Entrepreneurship, Industrial relations, Regulation/deregulation, private security, transnational