The red bear

Class politics and international solidarity in Bamse

Bibliographic Data

ID22003449
AuthorsRobert Aman (0000-0002-2387-1883, Linköping University, corresponding author)
Year2026
Volume17
Issue1
Pages48-66
Publication date2026-01-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Graphic Novels & Comics (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2150-4857 • E-ISSN: 2150-4865
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/21504857.2025.2483846
OpenAlexW4408925870
LanguageEN
References cited27

Rune Andreásson’s hero Bamse, the world’s strongest bear, stands as one of the most recognisable and successful comic book characters in Sweden. The comic is renowned for its social pathos, aiming to impart values considered positive. This article critically analyses the ideological content of the comic during the 1970s. It argues that Bamse serves as a prime example of what has been classified as politicised children’s literature in the wake of 1968. Throughout these formative years of the comic book, Bamse’s adventures revolve around issues of class struggle, international solidarity and anti-consumerism – concerns that, in other titles from the same period, contributed to their popularity. In essence, Bamse embodies a socialist ethos that was commercially viable at the time

Epistemology · Media studies · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Solidarity · Elite Sociology and Global Capitalism · Historical and Contemporary Political Dynamics · Law · Philosophy · Political Economy and Marxism

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Open DOIOpen Access