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The article focuses on labour market relations and particularly the following aspects:

To what extent do main actors share key opinions? Which actors are considered influential? Who is trusted by whom, and how much? Does communication take the character of deliberation?

Since relational data in industrial relations is rare, 71 actors in Sweden were asked about each other (770 elite positions, slightly more that 300 answered).

Asserted changes as regards power in the Swedish industrial relations system seem over-estimated. The state still hold key positions. The peak-organisations and the Social Democratic Party are also influential, although less than the ministries. All these powerful actors are less trusted over class borders, while the Labour Court and the Conciliators’ Office are considered trustworthy, rational ‘deliberators’. It is hypothesised that they produce “the cement of society” that holds the system together.