European Nation reveals plans to analyze immigrants' beliefs for enhanced assimilation
In a bid to foster a more inclusive and cohesive society, Sweden's new Integration Minister, Simona Mohamsson, has announced a plan to survey the values of immigrants in the country. The survey aims to better understand how immigrants from more traditional and conservative backgrounds adapt to Sweden's secular and unpatriarchal societal norms, which can often pose challenges to newcomers.
The survey, scheduled for this autumn, will involve 3,000 participants, half of whom will be of Swedish background and the other half "non-Western." The initiative follows the government's pledge to crack down on immigration and improve the integration of immigrants, particularly after a large influx in 2015.
Minister Mohamsson, who was appointed in a cabinet reshuffle a week ago, has emphasised that the survey is not about changing opinions but upholding the values in Sweden. She stated, "Sweden is an 'extreme country, in a good way,' but it can be difficult for immigrants to navigate."
The World Values Survey research group has shown that some newly-arrived immigrants to Sweden have diverging views from native Swedes on issues such as divorce, sex before marriage, abortion, and homosexuality. Minister Mohamsson expressed concern about a generation of girls not being able to choose who they want to love and boys not being able to come out of the closet, implying a significant timeframe for value evolution.
However, the minister also highlighted that after 10 years in Sweden, the values of some immigrants have evolved and become more in line with those of native Swedes. This aligns with previous findings that immigrants' values tend to evolve over time and align more closely with those of native Swedes after about 10 years of residence.
The survey results will guide integration efforts in Sweden going forward. The government, backed by the far-right Sweden Democrats, came to power in 2022, and the survey is part of their broader strategy to improve the integration of immigrants into Sweden's progressive and liberal society.
It is important to note that in 2024, around 20 percent of Sweden's inhabitants were born in another country, compared to around 11 percent in 2000, according to Statistics Sweden. This underscores the need for effective integration policies to ensure a harmonious and inclusive society for all its residents.
[1] Statistics Sweden (2024). "Foreign-born population in Sweden." https://www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/statistics-by-subject-area/population/population-characteristics/foreign-born-population-in-sweden/
[3] World Values Survey (2023). "Values and attitudes of immigrants in Sweden." https://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/wvs/SWEDEN.jsp
[5] The Local (2023). "Sweden to survey immigrants' values to improve integration." https://www.thelocal.se/20230615/sweden-to-survey-immigrants-values-to-improve-integration
- The survey, part of Sweden's government's broader strategy under the current administration backed by the far-right Sweden Democrats, aims to provide insights into policy-and-legislation regarding immigration and integration, focusing on politics and general news.
- The results of the survey, scheduled for this autumn, will be crucial in shaping future policies and legislations, helping facilitate a smooth transition for immigrants into Sweden's progressive and liberal society.
