Assessing the Contributions of Immigrants in Sweden's Society
In a bid to improve immigrant integration, the right-wing government in Stockholm, which took office in 2022, has announced plans to survey the values of immigrants living in Sweden. This initiative is part of a broader effort to adapt immigrants to Sweden's secular and non-patriarchal society.
The significant increase in the number of immigrants in Sweden is evident. As of 2024, around 20 percent of the Swedish population was born in another country, compared to 11 percent in 2000. This substantial growth has presented challenges in terms of integration.
Immigration Minister Simona Mohamsson has highlighted the challenges faced by immigrants, particularly those from conservative countries, as they adapt to Sweden's liberal society. Previous surveys, such as those conducted by the World Values Survey research group, have shown that new immigrants often hold different views on issues like divorce, pre-marital sex, abortion, and homosexuality compared to native Swedes. However, these views tend to align more closely with those of native Swedes after about a decade in the country.
The current right-wing government, which includes support from the far-right Sweden Democrats, has emphasized the need to improve integration while also taking a more stringent stance on immigration. This initiative reflects this focus on integration.
The survey, which is scheduled to be conducted in the fall, will see around 3,000 people being surveyed about their values. Half of these participants will have a Swedish background, while the other half will have a "non-Western" background. The results of the survey, as announced by Mohamsson, are intended to help improve integration efforts.
In addition to the values survey, the Swedish government is also addressing the issue of prison overcrowding by renting 400 cells in Estonia for inmates due to a lack of space in Swedish prisons. However, the criteria for selecting inmates to be housed in Estonia have not been disclosed.
Mohamsson has also stated that migrants must integrate, including their values. She further clarified that it is not a human right to live in Sweden. These statements underscore the government's commitment to promoting social cohesion and integration within Swedish society.
This initiative is a significant step towards fostering a more inclusive and integrated Sweden, where immigrants can adapt to and thrive in the country's progressive and liberal society. The survey results, once released, are expected to provide valuable insights that can guide future integration policies and strategies.
The survey, targeting both Swedish and non-Western immigrants, is a part of the community policy aimed at fostering integration within Sweden, aligning with the government's general-news focus on adapting immigrants to the country's secular and non-patriarchal society. The employment policy, meanwhile, extends to ensuring migrants understand and adopt values conducive to social cohesion, as stated by Immigration Minister Simona Mohamsson, who emphasizes the importance of integrating values in the broader context of immigrant integration.
