The choice and use of theory is eclectic. Specific importance is given to works by James Carey, Louis Marin, Raymond Williams, Pierre Bourdieu and J rgen Habermas. Shortcomings of the concept image is discussed and representation is suggested as a more fruitful concept when dealing with meaning connected to countries and social entities. The three modalities of representing the country are empirically explored in analyses of Sweden's representation abroad. Exhibitory representation is studied through official swedish participation in World's Fairs.
Social representation is studied through historical commemorations of the colony New Sweden.
The cultural and social forms of symbolic representation is studied through state-supported publicity and public information abroad. The dissertation aims to show that analysis of cultural forms have social and sociological relevance. It also aims towards a more systematic mapping of the 20th century representations of Sweden and Swedishness in terms of cultural and social forms. Media criticism and media power. Towards a mapping of the field of media criticism.