Diss. Uppsala : Univ., 2003.

Religious phenomena, such as prayer, have more or less always interested and engaged people, but most likely for different purposes. Since the early 20th century, starting notably with Edmund Husserl and especially Martin Heidegger, phenomenologists have taken an interest in understanding and expounding the meaning of religious phenomena. The attention of such a discourse have not ceased but is rather current, and also of importance seeing that religious themes, such as prayer, still occupy a great extent of human life and practice. Phenomenology of religion is not a science of religion: the former approaches religion in terms of its meaningfulness, whereas the latter as an object of inquiry and in the same manner as an economist approaches economical indicators in order to understand and explain how the whole economy functions. In other words, phenomenology of religion expounds religion, as it were, from within, while science of religion does it from without or externally. When approaching prayer phenomenologically, it shows itself to be a process or structure through which the one praying empty himself in order to be able to receive the valuable presence of the other. The value that is received from the other will also be reflected by the one praying and in that sense effect his surroundings and fellow humans.

Considering increasing globalization and migration, Sweden has become home to a significant Syrian population. Despite this group's growing presence, their needs and preferences have not received adequate attention from supermarket chains.This study aims to explore factors that most influence consumer behavior and food preferences among individuals of Syrian background in Sweden. The findings will provide marketers and producers operating within the food industry a better understanding of this group, thereby enabling them to tailor their product range and marketing to satisfy their needs and preferences.The study is based on theories dealing with consumer behavior, ethnic identity, price, and nostalgia consumption. These theories help us understand and identify the most critical factors for Syrian consumers in Sweden concerning their food purchase choices and preferences. We used a qualitative research design, collecting empirical material through semi-structured interviews with ten consumers of Syrian background residing in Sweden. We then analyzed the data using thematic analysis.The results indicate that cultural factors, religious values, price and quality awareness, family influence, and health consciousness are the primary determinants of food choices for Syrian consumers in Sweden. Even though they are in a new cultural environment, they strongly maintain their original food preferences and seek products that align with their religious beliefs. These consumers are also price-conscious, strive for high-quality products, and take into consideration family preferences and health consciousness when choosing food.

I Sverige har jämställdhetsdebatten varit central sedan 1970-talet, men i och med det ökande antalet flyktingar befinner sig många utländska personer i Sverige, varav många är kvinnor. Jämställdhetspolitiken utgår från en generell beskrivning av skillnader mellan män och kvinnor och därmed nämns inte mycket om andra kvinnogruppers ställning i samhället. Därtill döljs kvinnor med utländsk bakgrund från jämställdhetsdebatten och deras ställning i samhället blir inte belyst på samma sätt. Dessutom har begreppet invandrare blivit ett sätt att skilja på människors ställning i samhället, vilket gör att det blir nödvändigt att lyfta information om genus och etnicitet. Därför valde vi att undersöka hur syriska kvinnor själva ser på inkludering och exkludering i det svenska samhället utifrån levt medborgarskap. För att uppnå syftet valde vi att använda oss av intervjuer som metod för att låta kvinnorna berätta om sin livsvärld. Vi intervjuade tio kvinnor från Syrien som är mellan 35–50 år gamla och alla har svenskt medborgarskap. Resultaten och slutsatserna är att det svenska medborgarskapet inte gav dem någon nytta till att känna sig tillhörande i det svenska samhället. De flesta kvinnorna kände inte sig inkluderade trots att de jobbar, samt att de utstår exkludering på grund av sin etnicitet mer än på grund av sitt kön.

The Syrian Civil War has displaced millions of Syria’s inhabitants both around the region and throughout the world. These individuals carry different experiences, views, and perceptions regarding what they have left and their views on the conflict. This study seeks to identify the dominant frames used by 11 Syrian diaspora individuals living in Sweden when framing the Syrian Civil War. It also aims to identify individuals' views of the civil war. The study uses a qualitative framing analysis and applies Kuyper’s function of frames in a total of 11 semi- structured interviews. The study examines interviewees' frames regarding (a) The Arab Spring demonstrations, (b) The Syrian regime, and (c) International Interests. The study found the following frames on (a) horria (freedom), shohada al-thowra (martyrs of the revolution), extremist opposition, (b) dictatorial, dictatorship, fakher (pride), and (c) natural resources, the USA and Russia. The study argues that interviewees adopt different frames based on three factors, (I) media consumption, (II) sectarian affiliation, and (III) geographical origin. / Inbördeskriget i Syrien har fördrivit miljontals av Syriens invånare både runt om i regionen och över hela världen. Dessa individer har olika erfarenheter, åsikter och uppfattningar och syn på konflikten. Denna studie syftar till att identifiera dominerande gestaltningar som används av 11 syriska diaspora-individer som bor i Sverige vid gestaltning av det syriska inbördeskriget. Studien syftar också till att identifiera individers syn på inbördeskriget. I studien används en kvalitativ gestaltningsanalys och tillämpar Kuypers funktion av gestaltningar i totalt 11 semistrukturerade intervjuer. Studien granskar respondenternas gestaltningar angående (a) demonstrationerna under den Arabiska Våren (b) den Syriska regimen och (c) internationella intressen. Studien fann följande gestaltningar (a) horria (frihet), shohada al-thowra (revolutionens martyrer), extremistisk opposition, (b) diktatur, diktatur, fakher (stolthet) och (c) naturresurser, USA och Ryssland. Studien hävdar att intervjuade antar olika gestaltning baserat på tre faktorer, (I) mediekonsumtion, (II) sekteristisk tillhörighet och (III) geografiskt ursprung.

I denna uppsats undersöks hur syrier och syriska flyktingar har porträtteras i fyra bilder som publicerats i svenska dagstidningar, utifrån frågeställningar om just framställning, vilket kontext som framkommer från artiklarna som bilden publicerats i och huruvida publiceringen av bilderna kan anses etiskt försvarbara. Bilderna som analyseras är bland annat fotot på Alan Kurdi, och tre andra, starka nyhetsbilder. Metoden som använts är kvalitativ, huvudsakligen bildanalys med hjälp av semiotik och steg skapade av Terje Hillesund som behandlar bland annat denotation och konnotation, men även ideologi. För att kunna analysera den kontext som bilderna publicerats i (det vill säga artiklarna) har diskursanalys använts. Teorin som bilderna och texterna undersöks genom är filosofen Emmanuel Levinas ansvarsmoral. Resultatet visar att tack vare den distans som personerna avbildas med tillåter man dessa personer respekt. Men barnen i artiklarna beskrivs utan att nämna vanliga barnaktiviteter som exempelvis lek, vilket fråntar dem en traditionell barnroll och särskiljer dem från svenska barn. Gällande den etiska frågan framkommer flera olika sidor, bland annat att bilderna kan väcka ansvar hos den som ser på bilden – ge dem ett val att ta det ansvaret och rikta uppmärksamheten mot kriget i Syrien, men mer problematiska sidor blev tydliga som att barnen i texterna är passiva aktörer. Slutligen framkom det i en intervju med Aftonbladets utrikesredaktör Martin Schori att tidningen var mer försiktig i publicering av bilder från exempelvis terrorattentatet i Stockholm i april och foton från krigets Syrien.

Abstract  In 2011, the war broke out in Syria, affecting a significant portion of the Syrian population. Many have been forced to flee the war in search of a safe and secure life. However, those who have left Syria have also left their loved ones behind and carry with them the traumas of war. The main purpose of this essay is to examine the challenges that Syrian refugees diagnosed with PTSD face when they arrive in Sweden. The essay is based on qualitative research methodology and semi-structured interviews with six Syrian refugees. The results of the essay identify the significance of war traumas for these refugees and their negative impact on their ability to integrate into Swedish society. The lack of access to specialized psychiatric care and communication barriers exacerbates the situation and emphasize the importance of a person-centered approach in healthcare. Gender differences are highlighted, where both men and women face unique challenges based on their cultural norms and experiences. Special emphasis is placed on the need for targeted interventions to address the needs of Syrian refugee women, who are at increased risk of gender-based violence and psychological distress.   The essay contributes to a better understanding of the specific challenges that Syrian refugees with PTSD face in Sweden and underscores the importance of designing adequate support and care programs to meet their needs.

The Syrian Muslim Brotherhood has since the start of the Syrian uprising in March 2011 moved from a low-key position in exile to become one of the main actors in the political opposition. There appears to be a consensus among researchers today on the democratic commitment of the Syrian Brotherhood. However, ambiguity remains regarding its commitment towards gender equality, women’s rights and participation. This essay focuses on the gender discourse of the Syrian Brotherhood’s leadership, according to its policy-documents, from 2004 – 2013. By applying a critical discourse analysis, a movement from a more Islamist, exclusionary discourse in 2004 towards a more inclusive, feminist inspired discourse in 2013 becomes apparent. Nonetheless, traditional gender roles linger and more Islamist and pan-Arab, pan-Islamic discourses are not distant features. The movement of the gender discourse towards greater inclusion confirms claims made by democratic theorists on inclusion and moderation.

The ongoing Syrian conflict is one of the most violent, bloody and complex conflicts that broke out in modern time. The Syrian people were inspired by the Arab spring, where popular demonstrations and peaceful protests demanded freedom and democracy. The Syrian regime declared that Syria is in a serious war against terrorism. This essay will try to analyze the Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad’s propaganda during the revolution against his government in March 2011. The analysis will go through a few of Al-Assad’s speeches and interviews during the Syrian uprising between 2011 and 2012. The study will be based on several fundamental researches that explain the relationship between the Syrian regime and the jihadi Islam in many dimensions before and after 2011. The study will answer the following question: How has the Syrian regime used fight terrorism as propaganda to serve its own political interest during the Syrian uprising 2011? In my study, I use argumentation analysis as a method, this method is used to assess the credibility and sustainability of text or politics in context. In an argued text, the author aims to convince the reader of something in a critical and reasonable manner of argument. The method used is both descriptive and appreciative of Bashar Al-Assad’s arguments. The study concluded that Al-Assad from the beginning of his presidency has played a major role of producing Islamists to achieve his own political objectives in the region and was able to take advantage of them while trying to crackdown the Syrian revolution in 2011 through many political acts. / Denna uppsats analyserar den syriska presidenten Bashar Al-Assads propaganda under upproret mot sin regering i mars 2011. Analysen kommer att gå igenom några av Al-Assads tal och intervjuer under det syriska upproret mellan 2011 och 2012. Studien baseras även på olika politiska hållpunkter som förklarar förhållandet mellan den syriska regimen och islamister före och efter 2011. Studien kommer att svara på följande fråga: Hur har den syriska regimen använts sig av kampen mot terrorism som propaganda för att tjäna sina egna politiska intresse under syriska upproret 2011? I min studie använder jag argumentationsanalys som metod. Denna metod används för att bedöma text eller politikens trovärdighet och hållbarhet i sammanhang. I en argumenterande text syftar författaren till att övertyga läsaren om någonting på ett kritiskt och rimligt sätt. Metoden som används är både beskrivande och värderande av Bashar Al-Assads argument. Studien drar slutsatsen att Bashar Al-Assad har använts sig av terrorism-propaganda för att kunna överleva situationen. Analysen av Al-Assads argument visar att Al-Assads teser strider emot det som äger rum i Syrien och har även låg beviskraft. Uppsatsen kommer fram till att sedan början av Al-Assads presidentskap har han spelat en viktig roll för att producera islamister i syfte att uppnå sina politiska mål i regionen och kunde dra nytta av dem för att förtycka det syriska upproret 2011 genom att frisläppa islamister från Saydnaya-militärt fängelse genom en presidentsamnesti som utfärdat i maj 2011.

The aim of this study was to increase understanding of how older Syrian migrants experience aging in Sweden as well as their perspective on needs related to aging and how these needs can be met. The empirical base of the study was eight semi-structured qualitative interviews. In addition, theories about Maslow's hierarchy of needs and social support were applied to the study to enable a further analysis of our respondents' perspectives on aging, perspectives on Swedish elderly care and perspectives on relative support. The result of the study shows that our respondents feel that it is difficult to see how their needs as elderly people can be met. They live in a country with a different language and culture without having any knowledge about the new country. They also believe that the responsibility lies mainly on their relatives instead of searching for help or support from the public elderly care, because they think that the help offered by the elderly care is not prepared to their individual needs. The study concluded that our respondents think that aging in a foreign country does not give the same feeling as aging in their home country. Learning a new language is certainly not easy for them. It is also not easy for them to live in a new society with its norms, culture, and tradition. All of our respondents are dependent on their adult children and need help with various things. This help that children provide for their elderly parents is an obligation in their culture.