Degree Project IMMIGRANTS’ INTEGRATION IN SWEDEN Swedish young adults’ perceptions and attitudes Author: Lindita Aliti Supervisor: Esther Friedman& Agneta Hedblom Examiner: Kerstin Gynnerstedt & Roddy Nilsson Term: Spring 2014 Subject: Social Work Level: Master Curse code: 4SA70E ABSTRACT Tittle IMMIGRANTS’ INTEGRATION IN SWEDEN Swedish young adults’ perceptions and attitudes Author Lindita Aliti Study program International Master Program in Social Work Tutor Esther Friedman& Agneta Hedblom Examiner Kerstin Gynnersted& Roddy Nilsson Key words Immigration; immgrants’ integration in Sweden; integration; natives’ perceptions of immigrants; awareness of integration; acculturation theory; social identity theory Background : Integration of immigrants is an interactive process of learning a new culture, an obtaining of rights, access to a position and status and building of personal relations between migrants and the receiving society. Their ability to reciprocally adjust to intercultural encounters is one of the most important factors of successful integration. Aim: The purpose of this study is to investigate Swedish young adults perception and attitudes towards immigrants and immigrants’ integration into the Swedish society. Furthermore the aim is to study their perception of social interaction of immigrants and the Swedish host society. How Swedish young adults perceive their country’s immigration policy. Method: A qualitative research, using an online open-ended questionnaire and in-depth telephone interviews were applied to collect the data about Swedish young adults perceptions and attitudes. The transcribed dataweresubjected to thematic analysis. Result: The results of the qualitative research helped to understand Swedish young adults perceptions and attitudes. The findings showed that two of the biggest reasons that Swedish young adults support immigration are: humanitarism and labor force. Swedish young adults are very aware of immigrants’ integration in Sweden. They socialize with immigrants and have contact with them in daily basis. Swedish young adults, have a negative opinion regarding Sweden’s immigration policy Conclusion : Swedish young adults define immigrants as a people born in one country but move to another (particularly in Sweden) with an intention to reside there permanently. Regarding their acculturation expectations, they support integration as the best acculturation strategy. They think that immigrants in Sweden are “half way” integrated, geographically segregated, discriminated, prejudiced in different degrees and immigrant woman are the most excluded category. ........……………………………… TABLE OF CONTENT INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... 1 Motivation ................................................................................................................ 1 BACKGROUND.......................................................................................................................... 3 Migration and immigrants......................................................................................... 3 Multiculturalism ....................................................................................................... 4 Immigrants integration ............................................................................................. 5 Social exclusion and segregation............................................................................... 8 Ethnocentrism........................................................................................................... 9 Stereotypes, Prejudice, Xenophobia, Racism and Discrimination ............................ 10 Intercultural contact ................................................................................................ 13 Immigration and integration in Sweden................................................................... 14 IMMIGRATION AND SOCIAL WORK ...............................................................................18 DEFINITION OF RESEARCH PROBLEM ..........................................................................19 AIM.............................................................................................................................................20 THEORETICAL FRAME OF REFERENCE........................................................................21 Acculturation theory............................................................................................... 21 Social identity theory.............................................................................................. 24 METHODOLOGY ...................................................................................................................26 Initial procedure ..................................................................................................... 26 Setting.................................................................................................................... 28 Participants............................................................................................................. 28 Instrumental or intervention materials..................................................................... 29 Measurement instruments....................................................................................... 31 Data analysis .......................................................................................................... 32 Ethical considerations............................................................................................. 32 Procedures.............................................................................................................. 34 RESULT .....................................................................................................................................35 Immigrants and immigration................................................................................... 35 Definition of immigrants and words associated to “immigration”....................... 35 Impact, benefits and concerns ............................................................................. 36 The level of immigration in Sweden..................................................................... 37 Swedish immigration policy ................................................................................ 38 Integration.............................................................................................................. 39 Acculturation expectations ................................................................................... 39 Integration factors ............................................................................................... 39 Social integration ................................................................................................ 39 Exclusion, segregation and discrimination .......................................................... 40 Responsible parties for integration ...................................................................... 41 Social interaction.................................................................................................... 41 Multiculturalism .................................................................................................. 42 DISCUSSION.............................................................................................................................43 Discussion of methods............................................................................................ 43 Discussion of results............................................................................................... 46 CONCLUSION ..........................................................................................................................50 REFERENCES APPENDIXES Appendix 1: Research consent Appendix 2: Informed consent letter Appendix 3: Informed consent letter Appendix 4: Questionnaire LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Two implicit models of plural societies ...................................................................21 Figure 2. Acculturation strategies in ethno-cultural groups and the larger society ...........22 INTRODUCTION “Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt This thesis presents the findings of a qualitative research investigatingSwedish young adults perception and attitudes towards immigrants and immigrants’ integration into the Swedish society. Furthermore, how aware are Swedish young adults of immigrants’ social integration and how Swedish young adultsperceive their country’s immigration policy. Vast of the research on immigration has been focusing on immigrant’s adaptation (e.g. Richardson, 1974; Taft, 1985, 1986) where immigrants themselves were the protagonists in the concept of integration. Enumerated studies were concentrating on the perspectives of immigrants, with the purpose of adopting or proposing a process for their adjustment. Not much research can be found elaborating the needs or adjustments that need to be done in the hosting society. Integration of immigrants should not be understood directly as something concerning immigrants alone, but residents, governments and institutions of the receiving society as well. Their ability to reciprocally adjust to intercultural encounters is one of the most important factors of successful integration (Ahokas, 2010; Avramov & Cliquet, 2004;