This study is a qualitative investigation where surveys where performed on five Swedes from Lebanon. The purpose with the survey was to learn how these persons were affected by the war against Lebanon in the summer 2006, how they reacted to it and what measures they took to overcome their crisis. The result shows that the state of crisis of the interviewed persons was caused by several factors, such as the war being both unexpected and intensive. Other causes was the worry that their children would be hurt by the effects of the war as well as the material and human losses that the war brought. The interviewed persons responded with both negative and positive reactions, which may have affect their recovery process. Some of them where offered physiological support in Sweden by their municipalities. All of them did not accept the offer, but they took other measures to work on their crisis, such as busying themselves with other things to avoid being imprisoned in the trauma. Extreme political calamities in Lebanon which arose after the war was a factor that complicated the respondents’ recovery processes. Most of them however expressed that they where in a better psychological state compared to the period right after the war.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Åbo akademi, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 286-300).

This thesis explores swedes and the Swedish community in Paris as a diaspora and not simply as forming a temporary, touristic and fragmented stance. The case is set within the specific locality of Paris and considers the historic relationship between the two countries. This, alongside Frances’ policies towards immigration constitutes the context of the Swedish diaspora in Paris. Furthermore, the studied diaspora is viewed partly in relation to other diasporas in France, such as the African, the Kurdish, the Chinese and the Scottish – all facing different conditions as a diasporic group.  The material for this study was assembled through qualitative interviews and analysed with a qualitative content analysis approach. Furthermore, it was analysed in the light of diasporic and transnationalism theories. Through the analyses we see how swedes in Paris fulfil many of the criteria of a diasporic group which is featured in the theoretic literature. They have a dispersion, voluntary and touristic in its form with a focus on the new locality, a homeland orientation where the homeland serves as a present source for values and identity, and boundary-maintenance through a wide range of institutions and social connections. The members of the Swedish diaspora live transnational lives: present in, affected as well as being affected by, both Sweden and France simultaneously. Hence obtaining a form of transborder citizenship, although lacking a political focus. The analysis and discussion paint a picture of a privileged state bound diaspora without a political struggle. They enjoy a high rate of mobility and their ethnic heritage is viewed as an asset – hence no discrimination in the new homeland. The privilege entails the freedom characteristic of that of a nomadic diaspora. However, this nomadic state result in a certain degree of ambivalence and a sense of up rootedness, alongside the positive effects of being at home in two places at the same time. With its extensive mobility and flexibility, which sets it apart from other diasporas, the Swedish population in Paris form a different kind of nomadic and privileged diasporic unit.

This thesis aims to understand how the second-generation Afro-Swedes experience everyday racism in public spaces as racialized and gendered bodies. The three key dimensions of study are to recognize (1) blackness in public space, (2) experiences of everyday racism in public space, and (3) coping strategies to everyday racism. These three dimensions are gathered from six participants’ narratives done through semi-structured interviews. The thesis reveals that public spaces are based on lived experiences. The second-generation Afro-Swedes are likely to suffer from emotional damage while exposed to racism and discrimination acts in public spaces. The collective notion amongst the select group is that feeling unsafe and unwelcomed in predominantly white spaces hinders their mobility patterns. The internal individualization of the concept of blackness is additional; however, there are similarities in how the Swedish society misses the individual aspect of their identity and groups black people as a collective. The thesis further concludes that everyday racism is a product of structural racism and is thus the aspect society should focus on the most. More research needs to be done regarding second-generation Afro-Swedes and black people in Sweden about spatial processes of race and the interconnection with gender, focusing on the embodiment of space rather than segregation.

This master thesis in Economic History explores the human capital transfer embodied in Swedish emigrants migrating to North America, during the period 1860-1923. Previous research on this topic has mainly focused on the second and third generation of Swedish-Americans, but the focus of this paper is on the first generation. The results indicates a high level of human capital transfer for the whole period, but increasing sharply after 1900. The thesis evaluates two different models for signaling human capital transfer, one based on social mobility, and the other on emigration motive. By considering migration motive it has been possible to use source material collected at a single point in time, before emigration taking place, but still knowing that these migrants were moving. The concept of informal human capital extends the analysis and makes it possible to use more source material compared to a situation with only formal human capital.

The purpose of this study is to examine how young Afro-Swedes view their identity and sense of belonging in Swedish society, and whether they face challenges and how it affects their social inclusion. This is examined through eight semi-structured interviews with six women and two men who are all born and raised in Sweden. Furthermore, thematic analyses have been applied to the material. The two concepts that have been used to analyze and discuss the collected data is ethnicity and belonging. The results of this study indicates that young Afro-Swedes do not identify as Swedish mostly because society categorizes them as “immigrants”. There is a clear perception that Swedish people are all white, blond and blue eyed which they as black citizens do not fit into. Because of this, young Afro-Swedes have faced many challenges and some of them feel socially excluded. The challenges they have in common is racism and xenophobia which has negatively affected them in many ways. The result of this study also shows how social environment, skin color, religion, and residential area have a major impact on how Afro-Swedes choose to identify as well as their sense of belonging in Sweden.

No description available.

<p>This dissertation examines the role in the migration process between Sweden and Finland of the Swedish-speaking minority group, the Finland Swedes. The causes underlying migration, as well as the integration of the group in Sweden, constitute the main focuses of the study.</p><p>It is concluded that Finland Swedes are over-represented in the total migration process from Finland to Sweden. As such, the process is culturally embedded in the group’s ethnic identity, which causes migration both through the practical minority situation in Finland, and through ethnic affinity with Sweden. Further causes include the substantial, circular networks of cultural, social and economic contacts between Sweden and Finland. </p><p>In the integration process, the transformation of the group’s ethnic identity is the central area of analysis. Initially, the ethnic affinity with Sweden is transformed into strengthened loyalties to Finland. As early as the first generation of migrants, however, the Finland Swedes enter into a process of assimilation in Sweden.</p><p>The migration process reveals the complex identity construction of the Finland Swedes. The ethnic identity is constituted of relations both towards the Finnish-speaking majority group, and towards Sweden as an extended Swedish-speaking area. The ethnic identity is mediated through national and personal identities, which are linked to both Sweden and Finland.</p><p>The findings have been produced within the methodological framework of critical realism, using a multiple-method research design. An individually based, statistical data set focused on the extension of the Finland-Swedish migration pattern, whereas an in-depth interview study was used to analyse the deeper causes of migration and integration.</p>

This dissertation examines the role in the migration process between Sweden and Finland of the Swedish-speaking minority group, the Finland Swedes. The causes underlying migration, as well as the integration of the group in Sweden, constitute the main focuses of the study. It is concluded that Finland Swedes are over-represented in the total migration process from Finland to Sweden. As such, the process is culturally embedded in the group’s ethnic identity, which causes migration both through the practical minority situation in Finland, and through ethnic affinity with Sweden. Further causes include the substantial, circular networks of cultural, social and economic contacts between Sweden and Finland. In the integration process, the transformation of the group’s ethnic identity is the central area of analysis. Initially, the ethnic affinity with Sweden is transformed into strengthened loyalties to Finland. As early as the first generation of migrants, however, the Finland Swedes enter into a process of assimilation in Sweden. The migration process reveals the complex identity construction of the Finland Swedes. The ethnic identity is constituted of relations both towards the Finnish-speaking majority group, and towards Sweden as an extended Swedish-speaking area. The ethnic identity is mediated through national and personal identities, which are linked to both Sweden and Finland. The findings have been produced within the methodological framework of critical realism, using a multiple-method research design. An individually based, statistical data set focused on the extension of the Finland-Swedish migration pattern, whereas an in-depth interview study was used to analyse the deeper causes of migration and integration.

Purpose: My purpose of this study was to examine the factors that motivate Swedes to travel to Egypt and Thailand. To answer the question, I have used two questions. What are the factors that motivate Swedes to travel to Egypt and Thailand? What is the motive for Swedes choose to travel to destinations such as Egypt and Thailand? Method: The method I am using  is the qualitative method. The qualitative method has been processed through interviews of Swedish travelers, the Swedish travel agencies as well as Egypt and Thailand tourist agencies specializing in trips to Egypt and Thailand via phone and e-mail. Theory: The theory I am using are motivators and push-pull factors in achieving an understanding of the factors that influence choice for Swedes to travel to destinations such as Egypt and Thailand. Empiricism: The goal was to get a much more qualitative data from the response from the Swedish travel agencies, Egypt and Thailand tourist agency and Swedish travelers who have traveled to both of these destinations. Result: What I have come up with in my study is that the factors that motivate Swedish travelers to travel to Egypt and Thailand, is the warm climate, sun and sea, culture, variety, the cheap price situation and that there are activities for different age groups. This has led to the heat in both Egypt and Thailand has attracted Swedish travelers to travel to both destinations. The reason for this is due to the bad weather here in Sweden which includes the winter and snow. / Syftet: Mitt syfte med uppsatsen har varit att undersöka vilka faktorer som motiverar svenskar att resa till Egypten och Thailand. För att besvara syftet har jag använt mig av två frågeställningar. Vilka är de faktorer som motiverar svenskar att resa till Egypten och Thailand? Vad är motivet till att svenskar väljer att resa till destinationer som Egypten och Thailand? Metod: Den metod jag har använt mig av är den kvalitativa metoden. Den kvalitativa metoden har bearbetats genom intervjuer av svenska resenärer, de svenska resebyråerna samt Egypten och Thailand turistbyråer som specialiserar sig på resor till Egypten och Thailand, via telefon och e-post. Teori: Den teori jag har använt mig av är motivationsfaktorer och push- pull faktorer för att uppnå en förståelse för vilka faktorer som påverkar valet för svenskar att resa till destinationer som Egypten och Thailand. Empiri: Målet var att få en mycket mer kvalitativ data från responsen från de svenska resebyråerna, Egypten och Thailand turistbyråer och svenska resenärer som har rest till båda dessa destinationer. Resultat: Det jag har kommit fram till i min studie är att de faktorer som motiverar svenska resenärer att resa till Egypten och Thailand är: det varma klimatet, sol och bad, kultur, dess variation, det billiga prisläget och för att det finns aktiviteter för olika åldersgrupper. Detta har lett till att värmen i både Egypten och Thailand har lockat svenska resenärer att resa till båda dessa destinationer. Anledningen till detta beror på det dåliga vädret här i Sverige som bland annat består av vinter och snö.