Work

It's about time: Governing through acceleration under the critical raw materials act in Sweden

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This article examines how renewed interest in mineral extraction in Sweden is articulated and enacted by the government through political narratives and governance practices in the context of the EU Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA). Drawing on a narrative analysis of policy documents and public statements, it shows that acceleration operates not merely as an administrative response but as a governing principle that reorders authority, legitimacy, and democratic engagement in mining governance. Four interrelated modes of change are identified—adding, replacing, removing, and limiting—through which urgency narratives legitimise institutional restructuring, centralisation, and the curtailment of deliberative safeguards. While framed as necessary for the green transition, these reforms simplify complex trade-offs inherent in wicked and super wicked problems and risk undermining deliberative capacity, justice, and long-term sustainability. The article contributes to debates on climate urgency and reflexive governance by highlighting the political and normative implications of institutionalised acceleration in environmental and mineral governance.

Source: The Extractive Industries and Society

DOI: 10.1016/j.exis.2026.101869

Authors: Åsa Nilsson Dahlström, Ann-Sofie Kall, Åsa Westermark

Institution: Jönköping University

Language: English

Topic: Mining and Resource Management

Subfield: Building and Construction

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,470