This thesis examines the ongoing relocation of Kiruna in northern Sweden as a case of development-induced displacement in the Global North. While mining-induced displacement is often studied in relation to the Global South, where relocation is frequently connected to poverty, weak institutions, and more visible conflict, Kiruna offers a different but still highly relevant case. Here, displacement takes place within a democratic welfare-state context, where strong institutions, planning procedures, and compensation systems are expected to reduce conflict. However, this thesis argues that the absence of open conflict does not necessarily mean that the relocation is experienced as fair, legitimate, or socially peaceful by affected residents. 

The empirical material used in this thesis consists of 117 survey responses and five semi-structured interviews with residents who were directly or indirectly affected by the relocation process. In order to protect anonymity, the interviewed participants are referred to throughout the thesis as Respondent 1–5. The respondents represent different relationships to the relocation process, including residents living within affected areas, individuals with personal or family connections to LKAB, and residents affected through housing, community life, or social relations. A more detailed discussion of sampling, recruitment, and methodology is presented in Chapter 4. The theoretical framework combines Mary Douglas’ Cultural Theory of Risk, the concept of ontological security, and research on acceptance and non-resistance in mining communities. Cultural Theory is used to analyse how different worldviews shape residents’ understandings of risk, responsibility, and fairness. Ontological security is used to understand how relocation affects everyday stability, home, identity, and future expectations. Research on acceptance and non-resistance helps explain why dissatisfaction does not always become visible protest.

The findings show that the relocation is experienced as much more than a physical movement of buildings. Residents describe loss of social spaces, weakened community life, uncertainty over housing, emotional stress, and concern that Kiruna is losing parts of its identity. The interviews reveal hierarchical, egalitarian, and fatalistic orientations. Some residents accept the relocation as necessary because of the mine’s role in Kiruna’s economy, while others emphasise injustice, lack of meaningful participation, and unequal consequences. Several respondents combine acceptance of the mine’s importance with criticism of Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara Aktiebolag (LKAB) and the municipality’s handling of communication, compensation, and responsibility.

The thesis concludes that the case of Kiruna shows how development induced displacement can create frustration, insecurity and concerns regarding fairness, even within a context with strong institutions and compensation systems. The findings also show that acceptance of the relocation should not automatically be understood as consent or satisfaction. Several residents recognise the importance of the mine and understand why the relocation is necessary, whilst still criticising how the process has been handled. By using Cultural Theory of Risk together with ontological security, the thesis shows how residents can understand and experience the same relocation in different ways depending on how they view risk, responsibility and fairness. The case of Kiruna therefore demonstrates that the absence of open conflict or resistance does not necessarily mean that a relocation process is experienced as legitimate, fair or socially peaceful.