Lotte Schack is an anthropologist who switched to sociology. She is now pursuing a doctorate with a thesis on the Swedish climate movement, ideas about justice and responsibility, at the Department of Sociology and Work Science.
“I focus on young activists and how they view their positions in society and the climate crisis, especially in relation to their age and the generation they belong to. And how this shapes ideas about justice and responsibility,” explains Lotte Schack.
The Possible and the Necessary
She is one of five collaborators in the research project The Possible and the Necessary, which deals with visions for a fossil-free and just future. Here, Lotte Schack has followed developments in the climate movement in relation to climate policy. She has conducted ethnographic fieldwork across the country, followed activist groups over a long period, taken part in their activities and interviewed 27 of the activists. The starting point has always been global climate justice.
‘It's about whether those who have contributed most to the problem should also take most responsibility for fixing it and finding solutions. And about the conditions for those who are most affected by climate change,’ she says.
Inequality between generations
She has also studied how climate activists in Sweden relate to the injustice that exists between generations.
"Yes, in recent years, people have started talking about generational justice. Children and young people will have to live with the consequences, but they have emitted the least. I also look at this in my thesis.
The thesis has several objectives.
“Broadly speaking, I want to nuance the view of what the climate crisis is, try to help people understand its consequences and how to think about solutions,” she explains.
The Aurora case
Lotte Schack has also studied the so-called Aurora case, a group of young activists who want to sue the government for failing to take sufficient action on climate change. She has followed the case and written a scientific article about it.
‘In it, I discuss our way of thinking about justice in Swedish society and how society is unable to properly address the issue of climate justice. I want to be involved in thinking about what justice is, how it can be achieved, and what it requires,’ says Lotte Schack.
Thesis on its way to print
Lotte Schack has been a doctoral student for almost five years. At the time of the interview, she is proofreading her thesis, which is due to go to press the following week.
And she is very happy to be completing her doctorate. There are several reasons why she applied for doctoral studies. In her home country of Denmark, she had studied anthropology. During her master's degree, she followed an anti-capitalist movement in Berlin and became interested in social movements and the role they play in social change.
“I had been a little unsure about what I wanted to do with my education. But I felt drawn to research because I had worked as a teaching assistant and enjoyed teaching, and I also enjoyed delving into a specific subject. And I really enjoyed doing fieldwork and talking to all kinds of people and trying to understand what they say about society," says Lotte Schack.
‘A highly relevant institution’
Before applying for the position, she researched various institutions in Denmark and western Sweden. She also read up on what happens here at the Department of Sociology and Work Science.
“Both for the project and for my interests, this felt like a very relevant institution,” she says. And the project is about the climate crisis, the biggest crisis of our time – so it feels meaningful to do research on this.
It's good to be curious and patient
Her advice to prospective doctoral students is that certain aspects of doctoral studies that are very positive can also be challenging, such as having a high degree of independence and being able to decide your own working hours.
“It has helped me to be part of a larger research project. I have had a lot of contact with my supervisor and been able to ask for advice. It has also helped that I have been involved in the doctoral student community. Especially in the beginning, I turned to them a lot with questions like, ‘How should I think about this? What do you do when you structure this? ’ etc.,” says Lotte Schack.
It is beneficial to be curious and patient, she believes.
‘At first, I felt that I had to produce or come up with something brilliant as quickly as possible. However, the best thing about doing a PhD has been being able to explore the subjects, be curious about them, and know that it is something that takes the time it takes.’
Fun to teach
Lotte Schack enjoys teaching, which is also part of her doctoral programme.
“I have taught all sorts of things, and it has been a fun challenge. You learn new things yourself,” she says, explaining that she teaches sociology, scientific theory, methodology and social movements.
“Teaching sociology to undergraduate students really helped me get into the subject. It gave me an idea of the canon of sociology,” says Lotte Schack.
Something that is very good about doctoral education, she believes, is the compulsory courses in classical and contemporary sociological theory.
“While there is a lot you have to do yourself in doctoral education, there are also these joint courses that can help you,” concludes Lotte Schack.
Text: Elisabeth Walther Lindqvist
