Omslagsbegrepet

Omslagsbegreppet is a term used in Swedish-language academic discourse to denote an umbrella or cover concept—a high-level category that encompasses several related concepts, phenomena, or subfields. It is used to organize analysis by providing a shared frame while allowing variation within its scope.

The word combines omslag (cover, wrapper) and begrepp (concept). In international discourse it is often aligned with the idea of an umbrella term or overarching concept; in Swedish texts, omslagsbegreppet is used to signal intentional abstraction and to mark boundaries for inclusion and comparison.

In practice, omslagsbegreppet is used in philosophy of science, linguistics, sociology, and cultural studies to map domains and to distinguish high-level categories from subordinate concepts. Example: treating digitalisering as an omslagsbegrepp that encompasses automation, online communication, and data processing.

Critics warn that omslagsbegreppet can be vague or reify differences if the scope is ill-defined. Proponents emphasize the need to specify criteria for inclusion and to articulate the relationships between the umbrella term and its subbegrepp.

In Swedish scholarly writing, omslagsbegreppet appears as a methodological tool to structure analysis and comparison across disciplines, while remaining a contested and context-dependent concept.