This book grew from the development of research links between Bill Lancaster in Britain and Peter Billing and Mikael Stigendal in Sweden over a decade ago. Their mutual discussions about the possibility of comparing Malmö and Newcastle resulted in a doctoral studentship sponsored by the University of Northumbria, which was completed in 2000. I thank all three for their advice and guidance since I commenced research in 1997. Particular thanks are extended to Bill Lancaster for his lively enthusiasm and firm belief in the benefits of comparative history. As an exercise in international comparative history, this work has involved many people in both cities. In Malmö I would like in particular to thank the staff of Malmö Stads Arkiv and Arbetarekommunens Arkiv and the City Library and University of Lund Library. Their counterparts at the Tyne and Wear Archive Service, Research Section of the City Council in Newcastle and the Trade Union Studies and Information Unit in Gateshead were equally helpful and supportive. In Newcastle particular thanks are extended to the Newcastle City Library Local Studies Section staff for their invaluable knowledge of, and enduring enthusiasm for, the history of Newcastle upon Tyne. I thank Swedish scholars and colleagues, in particular Peter Aronsson and Katarina Friberg of the University of Växjö, especially Katarina for reading and commenting on many of the chapters, as well as Lars Berggren, Fredrik Björk and Mats Greiff of the Universities of Lund and Malmö. In Britain I benefited from comments and insights from David Byrne, Don MacRraild, Patrick Salmon, Keith Shaw and John Tomaney, in addition to participants and convenors of the research seminars at the School of Humanities at the University of Northumbria. I would also like to thank all my former students of the University of Northumbria. Thanks are also extended to the late Pat Mather of Northumbria University’s Additionally, I would like to thank members of my family in Sweden for their hospitality and support during my research visits to Malmö and my family in Britain for their support and patience and for reading several draft chapters.Slide Library.