The jack-of-all-trades has found a home

Tove Lifvendahl has always been interested in politics.

Tove Lifvendahl has worked for Svenska Dagbladet before, as a columnist and editorial writer, but not in this building.

When we met she had only worked for two weeks in the big glassy skyscraper close to the Central Station and had been busy trying to learn how to find her way around the building and get into the routines.

How does it feel to be new to the job?

“It is of course a great pleasure and expectation, yet also a slight feeling of being the new intern,” she says with a broad smile.

She has come directly from the morning editorial meeting, which is held between 10 and 11. Here news topics are discussed and what can be promoted to tomorrow's editorial page. Tove's role as political editor is to hold together the editorial staff and take responsibility for what the editorial page represents.

“Nowadays, we rarely have unsigned editorials, we live in a time where signed is more natural. At the same time, that editorial page maintains a stance that is reflected in the selection of texts, and it is my role to stand for the stance.

One question she willingly promotes, is how we make use of new Swedes in the labour market. She believes this is an issue where Sweden is lagging behind.

“It's tragic when I hear about people who have left Sweden because they do not think they have been utilized. Either they have not been allowed into the labour market or they have been perceived as a threat. If we are to become a knowledge-based society, we must accept those who bring experience from outside, such as immigrants or those returning home, it is really important.

In the autumn Tove Lifvendahl will be appearing on two fronts. In addition to her job at Svenska Dagbladet, she has a new book coming out about Rosengård, a sequel to “Vem kastar första stenen?” which was published ten years ago. She has gone back to Rosengård and interviewed the young people who appeared in the first book. What has happened in their lives?

“10 years down the road it’s possible to write an optimistic and hopeful tale,” says Tove Lifvendahl. The book is called “I rörelse” and describes the progression of a number of individuals who have moved on and today work as a social worker, as a nurse, at IKEA, have started a family...

“It’s a coincidence that in 2003 there was stone throwing in Rosengård, now there is stone throwing in Husby. It is nothing new, but the same frustrations and the same alienation. However, development has not stood still. If you want to know how to prevent fires in Husby you can go to Rosengård where a great deal has happened.

Tove Lifvendahl has always been interested in politics and became involved in the Swedish Young Conservatives (MUF) during her youth in Arbrå in Hälsingland. This was followed by the Presidency of MUF and work for the think tanks Timbro and Fores.

Interest in history seems to be almost as strong. Her C-essay about Gösta Boman came out in book form and as recently as last spring she took a course at Uppsala University in Swedish and German 20th century history.

“I found out the requirement to become qualified to doctoral studies and the course was a stepping stone. It was kind of a five-year plan, but then came a call and a question I could not say no to...”

She has not completely closed the door to further studies.

“I’m interested in modern history - it gives an understanding of the present and insights into the different positions we find ourselves in today.”

Besides history, she has studied Swedish and general literary studies from 1993 to 2000, but believes that her studies were slightly fragmented.

“I worked at the GH club as a lunch chef and was a nanny while I was studying.” She remembers it as heavy going and tells of a time when she fell asleep in the middle of a crowded lecture hall.

The teacher tried to make contact but Tove slept on.

“Afterwards the teacher and I laughed about it. It wasn’t exactly a boost for his confidence.”

Even today, she lives in Uppsala, now with her husband and two small sons. Since she became a mother she has tried to be better at prioritizing all she wants to do. Yet it seems her curiosity still remains - and the opportunity to take a doctorate in Uppsala is still there:

“I have a friend who publicly defend a doctoral thesis after 60, so we'll see...” It does not sound such a bad future project at that age.

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FACTS/Tove Lifvendahl

Title: Political editor of Svenska Dagbladet.        

Age: 39 years old.

Family: Husband and two sons.

Education: BA in History, General Literary Studies and Nordic languages.

Leisure time: Spending time with the family, travelling, reading, cooking, baking, handicrafts, walking in the forest, fishing.

Hidden talent: Making beautiful wedding cakes.

Favourite place in Uppsala: The city park is lovely with its playground and large areas, Hamberg's fish restaurant, the public library with its areas for children and the cafe.

Favourite student club: GH club, where I worked as a chef.

It makes me happy: My children.

It makes me angry: I’m very rarely angry, but I don’t like pettiness and unwarranted rudeness. I have a job where I put matters under a spotlight and to some extent create conflict and I do not mind when debates become intense, but some go beyond that.