Where scientific evidence meets the voice of the people.

Globeknot is a nonprofit organization built on a solid foundation of expertise in public opinion, statistics, and economics. The organization was created to bridge the growing gap between reality and public perception.

Founders and Expertise

Behind Globeknot are some of Sweden’s leading experts in interpreting and explaining the world around us:

• Torbjörn Sjöström (Founder): With a background as CEO of Novus and in senior roles at Gallup Nordic and Gallup International, Torbjörn has been a leading voice in objectively gauging public opinion for over 15 years. His experience in leading groundbreaking surveys, such as Novus Coronastatus, forms the foundation of Globeknot’s methodology.
• Olof Gränström: Formerly a key figure at Gapminder, where he worked closely with Hans Rosling to combat global systematic ignorance. Olof brings world-class expertise in educational visualization and the analysis of global trends.
• Andreas Bergh: Ph.D. and Associate Professor of Economics. Andreas brings the academic expertise and research methodology needed to ensure that Globeknot’s reports meet the highest scientific standards.

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Our Mission: To Reclaim the Public Conversation

We are living in an age where facts are often equated with opinions in the media. This trend has led to a crisis of confidence in which citizens are losing trust in institutions—a phenomenon that is often mistakenly dismissed as “fact resistance.” Globeknot’s analysis is that citizens have lost trust in the source, not in the facts themselves.

By combining Novus’s proven research methodology with Gapminder’s educational heritage, we aim to:

1. Expose the “false will of the people”: Prevent vocal special interest groups from being allowed to dictate public opinion.
2. Reduce mutual mistrust: Show those in power that citizens are often more informed and have a more nuanced understanding than they realize.
3. Explain global connections: Analyze how events such as the U.S. election, NATO processes, and conflicts around the world affect Sweden—based on both empirical evidence and the public’s actual understanding.

Method: The Pedagogical Chain

Inspired by Hans Rosling, we follow a three-step process to make knowledge useful:

• Survey: We identify knowledge gaps through nationally representative surveys.
• Visualization: We translate complex data into understandable narratives and educational graphics.
• Dialogue: We share our insights through reports, YouTube discussions (similar to “Geniuses Speculate”), and open lectures.

Our goal is not only to show what is true, but also to explain why there is a gap between people and empirical evidence—and, above all, to prove that we are often more in agreement than the polarization in the media would suggest.