ABSTRACT
This chapter examines how normative governance influences caseworkers’ subjectivities in two Swedish state agencies: the Social Insurance Agency (SIA) and the Public Employment Service (PES). Governance attempts to mould caseworkers’ professional identities, by shaping self-understandings and work orientations. At the SIA, the analysis finds a managerially induced ‘malleable’ subjectivity characterized by compliance, complexity reduction, and alignment with organizational professionalism. At the PES, our research points to a cause-infused ‘sturdy’ subjectivity characterized by occupational professionalism, autonomy in relation to management and client-centred work orientation. Whereas SIA caseworkers strongly align themselves with the prescribed subjectivity, caseworkers at the PES act differently and distance themselves. This corresponds with two logics of discretion, with SIA caseworkers shunning discretion in favour of standardized decision-making and PES caseworkers claiming discretion to prioritize client outcomes. These findings illuminate the interplay between governance frameworks and frontline professional practices, offering critical insights into the dynamics of organizational and occupational professionalism in public sector agencies.
