An Anthropological Analysis of the Migration Crisis in Sweden: Perceptions of Swedes on Refugees

Abstract

The situation of the migration phenomenon both inside and outside the European Union has taken unprecedented proportions in 2015. The Swedish Migration Agency indicated on 12 October 2015 that more refugees sought asylum in Sweden than in any other year in the Nordic Nations History (The Local2015). Sweden, a country of9.8 million people, has taken more refugees as a proportion of its population than any other country in Europe as the continent struggles with its biggest migration crisis since the Second World War. Refugees fleeing the violence in Syria make up the largest proportion of people seeking asylum across Europe and in 2013 Sweden became the first country in Europe to rule that all refugees from the war-torn nation would be granted permanent residency in the light of the worsening conflict. Furthermore, Sweden has also accepted thousands of others from nations including Eritrea, Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans as well as a growing influx from Somalia. Based on the preceding explanation, this chapter examines the perceptions and opinions of students (predominantly Swedes) at the Uppsala University in order to ascertain their feeling to the influx of refugees in the country. Formal and informal interviews were conducted with students studying Peace and Conflict at the institution. Furthermore, questionnaires were administered to both undergraduate and post-graduate students. The experiences of these students are documented in order to add their voice to the debate on migration.