2024-03-062023/24:UbU15 · p.1UbUEducation
Research freedom and security issues
What's at stake: The issue affects researchers' ability to freely choose their subject and methods, and how universities balance openness and international collaboration against protecting sensitive knowledge and technology.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether existing agency mandates to safeguard research freedom and manage security risks are sufficient, or whether parliament should place a clearer demand on the government to strengthen this work.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee underscores the importance of research freedom, which is regulated by law, and that universities should promote and safeguard academic freedom. It notes an ongoing agency mandate to follow up on how universities work with this, including an international outlook, and highlights that universities are already working on security issues, including reporting on information-security work based on threat and vulnerability assessments. Other agencies also have mandates to promote responsible internationalization. The committee therefore rejects the motions.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (S, MP)
The reservation holds that it is fundamental both to the quality of research and to democracy that researchers can freely choose their research subject and method and freely publish their results, and that politicians must never pressure individual researchers. It calls for Sweden, nationally and internationally, to safeguard research freedom and promote open science, especially at a time of misinformation and threats against researchers, and for universities to actively strengthen their security work in step with the increased threat, while still safeguarding academic freedom and openness.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 1 by S, MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have gone the other way
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: KDKristdemokraterna, LLiberalerna, MModeraterna, SDSverigedemokraterna, VVänsterpartiet
Ja 172–108Nej 2–278
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 20/0/0/4 | departs from the planagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| S | No | No 0/93/0/13 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| MP | No | No 1/14/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | No | Abstain 0/0/18/6 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| L | No | Yes 13/0/0/3 | departs from the planagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | departs from the planagainst own programme | confidence: medium | explicit |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | departs from the planagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| SD | No | Yes 61/0/0/11 | departs from the planagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
Broke with the party line
| MPDaniel Helldén (MP, Stockholms kommun) | Yes — party line: No |
MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2023/24:813 by Anna Vikström (S) point 1, 2023/24:2456 by Mikael Larsson et al. (C) point 35 and 2023/24:2687 by Åsa Westlund et al. (S) point 80.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2023/24:813 av Anna Vikström (S) yrkande 1, 2023/24:2456 av Mikael Larsson m.fl. (C) yrkande 35 och 2023/24:2687 av Åsa Westlund m.fl. (S) yrkande 80.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected 80 proposals in motions on research from the general motion period of 2023. The motions concern, among other things, research freedom, distribution of research funding and space activities. The Riksdag refers, among other things, to applicable regulations and ongoing work.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to protect academic freedom by ensuring researchers can freely choose research topics and methods and publish results. (S, MP) — Reservation 1
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan explicitly defends free basic research and wants to protect the independence and funding of universities.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly defends free basic research and wants to protect the independence and funding of universities. The counter-proposal's requirement for free choice of research subject and method, free publication and that political actors must not direct research is the same commitment. The plan also warns that right-wing populist forces are attempting to control information and content increasingly, which justifies stronger protection for researchers.
Original (Swedish)
Planen försvarar uttryckligen den fria grundforskningen och vill värna universitetens oberoende och finansiering. Motförslagets krav på fritt val av forskningsämne och metod, fri publicering och att politiska aktörer inte får styra forskningen är samma åtagande. Planen varnar dessutom för att högerpopulistiska krafter försöker styra information och innehåll allt hårdare, vilket motiverar ett stärkt skydd för forskarna.
- free basic researchdecisive»Forskning utgör en del av den samhälleliga infrastrukturen och behöver växa i omfång. Vänsterpartiet försvarar den fria grundforskningen.« (party programme ↗)“Research forms part of society's infrastructure and needs to grow in scope. The Left Party defends free basic research.”
- university independence»Vänsterpartiet vill värna universitetens oberoende och finansiering och höja studiestödet så att fler kan välja att vidareutbilda sig.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Left Party wants to protect the independence and funding of universities and increase student support so that more can choose further education.”
- against privatization of educational institutions»Vänsterpartiet motsätter sig också alla försök att privatisera universitet och högskolor.« (party programme ↗)“The Left Party also opposes all attempts to privatize universities and colleges.”
- protection against political direction»Vi lever i en tid då högerpopulistiska krafter försöker styra information och innehåll allt hårdare.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We live in a time when right-wing populist forces are attempting to control information and content increasingly.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The party programme gives the state a special responsibility to guarantee research freedom and secure basic research, which is the core of the counter-proposal about free choice of subject, free method and free publication.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme gives the state a special responsibility to guarantee research freedom and secure basic research, which is the core of the counter-proposal about free choice of subject, free method and free publication. The election manifesto simultaneously requires that the ability to withstand cyberattacks, espionage and disinformation is strengthened, which covers the security part the counter-proposal raises. Both parts of the counter-proposal are thereby supported by the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet ger staten ett särskilt ansvar att garantera forskningens frihet och att trygga grundforskningen, vilket är motförslagets kärna om fritt ämnesval, fri metod och fri publicering. Valmanifestet kräver samtidigt att förmågan att stå emot cyberattacker, spionage och desinformation stärks, vilket täcker den säkerhetsdel motförslaget lyfter. Båda leden i motförslaget stöds därmed av planen.
- guaranteed research freedomdecisive»Staten har ett särskilt ansvar att garantera forskningens frihet och att trygga grundforskningen.« (party programme ↗)“The state has a special responsibility to guarantee research freedom and secure basic research.”
- strengthened information security»Arbetet för att stärka förmågan att stå emot cyberattacker och desinformation ska stärkas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The work to strengthen the ability to withstand cyberattacks and disinformation shall be strengthened.”
- protection against espionage»Vi måste kunna försvara oss militärt, men också mot hybridattacker, spionage och cyberangrepp.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We must be able to defend ourselves militarily, but also against hybrid attacks, espionage and cyberattacks.”
The plan stipulates that research shall be free and that academic freedom shall be safeguarded, while educational institutions' autonomy shall be developed in interaction with broad public transparency.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan stipulates that research shall be free and that academic freedom shall be safeguarded, while educational institutions' autonomy shall be developed in interaction with broad public transparency. The counter-proposal's demands for free choice of subject and method, free publishing and protection against political pressure are the same commitment. The plan's emphasis on openness and accessible research results also supports the demand for open science.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att forskningen ska vara fri och att den akademiska friheten ska värnas, samtidigt som lärosätenas självständighet ska utvecklas i samspel med stor offentlig insyn. Motförslagets krav på fritt val av ämne och metod, fri publicering och skydd mot politiska påtryckningar är samma åtagande. Planens betoning av öppenhet och tillgängliggjorda forskningsresultat stöder även kravet på öppen vetenskap.
- safeguard academic freedomdecisive»Den akademiska friheten ska värnas och jämställdheten måste förbättras.« (party programme ↗)“Academic freedom shall be safeguarded and equality must be improved.”
- free research»Forskningen ska vara fri, men det är rimligt att en del av de pengar som samhället satsar kan vara föremål för politiska prioriteringar och strategiska satsningar.« (party programme ↗)“Research shall be free, but it is reasonable that part of the money society invests can be subject to political priorities and strategic investments.”
- educational autonomy»Lärosätenas självständighet och oberoende ska utvecklas i samspel med en stor offentlig insyn.« (party programme ↗)“Educational institutions' autonomy and independence shall be developed in interaction with broad public transparency.”
- open science»Högskolan ska ha en öppen och pådrivande roll i samhället och främja demokratin samt tillgängliggöra forskningens resultat.« (party programme ↗)“Higher education shall have an open and driving role in society and promote democracy and make research results accessible.”
The plan makes academic freedom a cornerstone and requires that politics maintain arm's length distance, and the party programme that free universities independently conduct high-quality research.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan makes academic freedom a cornerstone and requires that politics maintain arm's length distance, and the party programme that free universities independently conduct high-quality research. Meanwhile, the plan requires that Sweden is equipped against internal and external threats and that protection for people in democracy-bearing activities is strengthened. The counter-proposal's demands for valued research freedom combined with strengthened security work are thus the plan's own line.
Original (Swedish)
Planen gör den akademiska friheten till en grundbult och kräver att politiken håller armlängds avstånd, och idéprogrammet att fria lärosäten självständigt bedriver högkvalitativ forskning. Samtidigt kräver planen att Sverige rustas mot inre och yttre hot och att skyddet för personer i demokratibärande verksamhet stärks. Motförslagets krav på värnad forskningsfrihet i kombination med stärkt säkerhetsarbete är därmed planens egen linje.
- arm's length distance to researchdecisive»Den akademiska och konstnärliga friheten liksom den fria kulturen är grundbultar i ett vitalt civilsamhälle. Politiken ska bidra till goda förutsättningar men hålla armlängds avstånd.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Academic and artistic freedom as well as free culture are cornerstones in a vital civil society. Politics shall contribute to good conditions but maintain arm's length distance.”
- independent universities»Högre utbildning och fria lärosäten ska självständigt kunna bedriva högkvalitativ forskning och utbildning.« (party programme ↗)“Higher education and free universities shall independently be able to conduct high-quality research and education.”
- arm against internal and external threats»Sverige måste rustas även mot dessa hot.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden must also be equipped against these threats.”
- protection against threats and pressure»Hat, hot, trakasserier och våld riktade mot demokratibärande institutioner måste upphöra.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Hate, threats, harassment and violence directed at democracy-bearing institutions must cease.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan wants academic freedom protected in the constitution and states that individual academic freedom shall be a foundational principle and that educational institutions' independence shall be protected.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants academic freedom protected in the constitution and states that individual academic freedom shall be a foundational principle and that educational institutions' independence shall be protected. The counter-proposal's requirement for freedom to choose research topic and method, free publication and freedom from political pressure is precisely this. The plan simultaneously sees non-democratic states' access to strategic knowledge as a security issue, which supports strengthened security work at educational institutions.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill ge den akademiska friheten skydd i grundlagen och slår fast att individuell akademisk frihet ska vara en bärande princip och att lärosätenas oberoende ska värnas. Motförslagets krav på fritt val av forskningsämne och metod, fri publicering och frihet från politiska påtryckningar är just detta. Planen ser samtidigt odemokratiska staters åtkomst till strategisk kunskap som en säkerhetsfråga, vilket stöder stärkt säkerhetsarbete vid lärosätena.
- constitutionally protected academic freedomdecisive»Den akademiska friheten ska ges skydd i grundlagen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Academic freedom shall be given protection in the constitution.”
- individual academic freedom»Individuell akademisk frihet ska vara en bärande princip för all offentlig verksamhet inom« (party programme ↗)“Individual academic freedom shall be a foundational principle for all public activities within”
- educational institutions' independence»De akademiska lärosätenas oberoende ska värnas« (party programme ↗)“Educational institutions' independence shall be protected”
- security perspective on knowledge»odemokratiska eller rentav totalitära stater förvärvar strategiska tillgångar« (party programme ↗)“non-democratic or even totalitarian states acquire strategic assets”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan establishes that freedom of thought is a prerequisite for successful knowledge seeking and that institutions of higher learning shall have a large degree of self-determination vis-à-vis the state.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that freedom of thought is a prerequisite for successful knowledge seeking and that institutions of higher learning shall have a large degree of self-determination vis-à-vis the state. It also requires the ability to meet attacks such as cyberwarfare. The counter-proposal's requirement for valued research freedom without political pressure and simultaneously strengthened security work thus lies in the plan's line.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att tankens frihet är en förutsättning för framgångsrikt kunskapssökande och att lärosätena ska ha stort mått av självbestämmande gentemot staten. Den kräver också förmåga att möta angrepp som cyberkrigföring. Motförslagets krav på värnad forskningsfrihet utan politiska påtryckningar och samtidigt stärkt säkerhetsarbete ligger därmed i planens linje.
- institutions' self-determinationdecisive»högskolor ska åtnjuta stort mått av självbestämmande i förhållande till staten.« (party programme ↗)“higher education institutions shall enjoy a large degree of self-determination in relation to the state.”
- freedom of thought»Tankens frihet är en förutsättning« (party programme ↗)“Freedom of thought is a prerequisite”
- protection against cyber threats»möta angrepp från internationell kriminalitet, terrorism, cyberkrigföring« (party programme ↗)“meet attacks from international crime, terrorism, cyberwarfare”
- knowledge seeking as a right»mänsklig rättighet som måste värnas.« (party programme ↗)“human right that must be safeguarded.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The election manifesto explicitly promises to protect free research from political interference, and the party programme wants strong and independent universities protected from political meddling.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly promises to protect free research from political interference, and the party programme wants strong and independent universities protected from political meddling. The counter-proposal's requirement for free choice of subject and method and that politics should not direct research is thus the plan's own line. The plan also promises an action plan against hybrid threats and state support against espionage, which supports the requirement for strengthened security work.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet lovar uttryckligen att värna den fria forskningen från politiska pekpinnar, och idéprogrammet vill ha starka och självständiga lärosäten fredade från politisk klåfingrighet. Motförslagets krav på fritt val av ämne och metod och på att politiken inte får styra forskningen är därmed planens egen linje. Planen lovar också en handlingsplan mot hybridhot och statligt stöd mot spionage, vilket bär kravet på stärkt säkerhetsarbete.
- free researchdecisive»Värna den fria forskningen från politiska pekpinnar« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Protect free research from political interference”
- independent universities»från tillfälliga politiska trender och klåfingrighet.« (party programme ↗)“from temporary political trends and meddling.”
- protection against hybrid threats»Införa en handlingsplan med konkreta åtgärder mot hybridhot och cyberattacker« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce an action plan with concrete measures against hybrid threats and cyberattacks”
- protection against espionage»Ge företag som är engagerade i säkerhetskänslig verksamhet bättre stöd från staten att kunna möta cyberattacker, spionage och stöldförsök från främmande makt« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Give companies engaged in security-sensitive operations better support from the state to meet cyberattacks, espionage and theft attempts by foreign powers”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan requires that political control of higher education decrease and academic independence increase, and criticizes that political control and ideologically marked value systems characterize research.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that political control of higher education decrease and academic independence increase, and criticizes that political control and ideologically marked value systems characterize research. It also wants to protect every citizen's right to express themselves freely without threats or reprisals. The counter-proposal's demands for free research without political pressure, combined with strengthened protection of activity and information, thus follow from the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att den politiska styrningen av högre utbildning minskar och att akademins självständighet ökar, och kritiserar att politisk styrning och ideologiskt präglade värdegrunder präglar forskningen. Den vill också värna varje medborgares rätt att uttrycka sig fritt utan hot eller repressalier. Motförslagets krav på fri forskning utan politiska påtryckningar, kombinerat med stärkt skydd av verksamhet och information, följer därmed av planen.
- reduced political controldecisive»Den politiska styrningen av högre utbildning ska minska och akademins självständighet öka.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Political control of higher education shall decrease and academic independence increase.”
- academic independence»Slå vakt om den högre akademins självständighet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Guard the independence of higher academia”
- criticism of controlled research»Allvarlig kritik har riktats mot att politisk styrning och ideologiskt präglade värdegrunder i hög grad präglar forskning och akademi.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Serious criticism has been directed at political control and ideologically marked value systems to a high degree characterizing research and academia.”
- protection against threats and reprisals»Varje journalists, konstutövares och medborgares rätt att uttrycka sig fritt utan att utsättas för hot eller repressalier ska värnas och stärkas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Every journalist's, artist's, and citizen's right to express themselves freely without being subjected to threats or reprisals shall be protected and strengthened.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:UbU15)
- Committee report full text (HB01UbU15)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:1020 — Djurförsök inom medicinsk forskning av Josef Fransson (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1158 — Möjliggörande av återinträde i akademisk forskning av Staffan Eklöf (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1159 — Förutsättningar för Sveriges fortsatta roll som kunskapsnation av Staffan Eklöf (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1280 — Utfasning av djurförsök av Ulrika Heindorff (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1429 — Nya rön kring anhörigas betydelse för psykiskt sjukas vårdplaner av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1502 — Jämställd akademi av Eva Lindh (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1514 — Säkrad förlossningsvård av Jessica Rodén och Louise Thunström (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1699 — Plan för att fasa ut djurförsöken inom forskning och utbildning av Jytte Guteland och Sofia Skönnbrink (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1733 — En framtid utan graviditeter av Joar Forssell (L)
- Motion 2023/24:1809 — Flytt av Rymdstyrelsen till Västsverige av Rickard Nordin (C)
- Motion 2023/24:1823 — Forskning om afrikansk svinpest av Monica Haider (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1904 — Satsning på forskning om kvinnors hälsa och kvinnorelaterade sjukdomar av Linnéa Wickman och Sanna Backeskog (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:2001 — Filmarkivet i Grängesberg av Sofie Eriksson (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2013 — Nationell handlingsplan för att nå en djurfri forskning av Magnus Manhammar (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2063 — En kvalitativ cancervård i framkant av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:2069 — En stärkt psykisk hälsa i hela landet av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:2076 — Life science av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:2159 — Fysisk och social aktivitet för att minska psykofarmaka inom psykiatri av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)
- Motion 2023/24:2453 — Ledarskap för klimat och grön omställning av Rickard Nordin m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2454 — Utbildning och forskning - för en stark kunskapsnation av Anders Ådahl m.fl. (C)
Source: The Swedish Parliament