Hur ska livet gå vidare? : En post-krisundersökning av återuppbyggandet av Arjeplog 1920–1925 efter spanska sjukan

• Main Author: Hammar, Agnes
• Format: Bachelor Thesis
• Language: Swedish
• Published: Umeå universitet, Institutionen för idé- och samhällsstudier 2022
• Subjects: epidemic; crisis; post-crisis; healthcare; orphaned; mental illness; social unity; History; Historia; Arjeplog
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-197540

This study has aimed to examine how Arjeplog recovered during a five-year period after the Spanish flu using a post-crisis theoretic model and method. Arjeplog is of interest due to the lack of previous studies on the subject despite having the highest mortality rate in Sweden. The post-crisis model present four challenges for Arjeplog after the Spanish flu which this study has examined. The means of handling four challenges was the reconstruction of healthcare, the importance of crisis heroes, the management of orphaned children and the minimization of mental illness. These factors have shown to have both long- and short-term consequences for its citizens and for Arjeplog to transform from a crisis to a post-crisis society. This paper concludes that the reconstruction of healthcare was not only necessary for the future wellbeing of Arjeplog’s citizens but also helped minimize mental illness due to the decreased risk for future widespread pandemics. The study could also conclude that crisis-heroes symbolized the solidarity the citizens displayed during the Spanish flue as well as strengthened existing social ties between families and neighbors. Management of orphaned children due to the Spanish flu was a new issue for Arjeplog where new institutions needed to be established as a result. The children’s and their parents’ perspectives showed the complicated implications regarding both the foster home and the newly established orphanage. The study concluded that the memory of the Spanish flu during the period was very prevalent and showed how crises can affect its victims despite life in general moving on.