Göteborgsbranden 1998 - Myndigheten för samhällsskydd och ...

The most important general conclusion we can draw from these analyses is related to
proximity – particularly to geographic proximity. The confidence evaluations changed considerably
more in the greater Gothenburg area than they did nationally, although both
investigations reveal similar patterns. The second general conclusion is that psychological
proximity also plays an important role. It was primarily immigrants who changed opinions
in terms of their evaluations of social institutions and their personnel. The mental and
psychological proximity between the public and social institutions would seem to have
been greatest among immigrants, even if the fire indirectly affected the great majority of
people in the Gothenburg area.
In conclusion:
• Schools and school personnel are evaluated more postively after than before the fire
among Swedish citizens as well as among immigrants.
• Confidence in health care and it’s personnel is high among Swedish citizens and it stays
high even after the fire. Among immigrants, however, the trust have declined somewhat.
• The political sphere is in general evaluated in a negative fashion; but after the catastrophic
fire the confidence have increased among immigrants.
• Journalists from morning papers are evaluated more positively after the fire among imm
grants, but this is not the case among Swedish citizens.
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