Swedes keenest on ethnic minorities

[Menydh]

Swedes keenest on ethnic minorities

The Local
January 24, 2007

Swedes are the quickest in the European Union to embrace the concept of the multi-cultural society. They are also among the least satisfied with efforts to combat discrimination, according to a new Eurobarometer survey.

In Sweden, 86% of those asked in the survey took the view that ethic minorities enrich the country's culture. Fewer than 4 out of 10 respondents shared this opinion in Malta (32%) and Cyprus (39%).

"It is pleasing that so many people are positive towards ethnic diversity in society," Sweden's integration minister Nyamko Sabuni told The Local.

"The government's aim is for Sweden to become even better at making use of that diversity. Everyone who wants to work should be get the opportunity to do so," she said.

Yet in an apparent paradox, a mere 28 percent of those asked said that enough was being done to tackle discrimination in Swedish society - only Poles were less satisfied.

Sabuni said the government recognized that more needed to be done to combat discrimination, and pointed to measures that the government is taking.

"One part of this is to create clear, effective and cogent legislation against discrimination. It is important that damages in discrimination cases are really significant. We are also increasing the budget of the Ombudsman Against Ethnic Discrimination by 13 million kronor in 2007," she said.

Eurobarometer asked people across the EU whether they thought discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, race and religion was common in their own countries.

Some 63 percent of Swedes thought discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation was widespread, the 5th highest figure in the EU. Italians were most likely to say that gay people are discriminated against, with 73 percent of respondents saying that this was common. The EU average was 50 percent.

Age discrimination is uncommon in Sweden, however, at least to judge from the opinions of those asked in the survey. Only 36 percent of Swedes thought that age discrimination was widespread in society, compared to 66 percent in Hungary and 46 percent in the EU as a whole.

Religious discrimination in famously secular Sweden was viewed as widespread by 56 percent of those surveyed. This contrasts with France, where 63 percent of those asked thought discrimination on the basis of religion or beliefs was common, and with Latvia, where only ten percent believed this to be the case.

Some 54 percent of those asked thought the wearing of religious symbols in the workplace was acceptable, contrasting with 79 percent in Malta.

With Sweden usually seen as a leading feminist nation, gender equality might be expected to be a given, but in fact 50 percent of those asked thought that gender discrimination was widespread, a figure lower only than those of Italy and Spain.


[source]

[Tennyson]

I am afraid that Sweden has moved beyond the point of no return. There are simply too many Swedes with non-European spouses, children and friends.

I complained about this to my friend, a Finn involved in mainstream politics. He chastized me for my racist attitudes and said: "Shouldn't you be happy when all those blonde and blue-eyed Vikings have to seek refuge in Finland?"

[Strengthandhonour]

A better question is where will all those blond blue eyed vikings,brown hair green eyed gauls,black hair and brown eyed legionaires,etc have to go when all the lands have been taken?
A truly sad situation indeed, in my opinion it seems that since Sweden is so up north that they never had to dealt with immigration the way other Europeans have..therefore having a different perspective on it.

[Menydh]

I searched for the Eurobarometer report and downloaded it. It's a pdf file. I'll extract the results on ethnic discrimination later and put them on a new thread.

I remain very sceptic of the published results.

[wilpuri]

Originally Posted by Strengthandhonour

A better question is where will all those blond blue eyed vikings,brown hair green eyed gauls,black hair and brown eyed legionaires,etc have to go when all the lands have been taken?
A truly sad situation indeed, in my opinion it seems that since Sweden is so up north that they never had to dealt with immigration the way other Europeans have..therefore having a different perspective on it.

Perhaps you should update your opinion?

[Tennyson]

Originally Posted by Mynydd

I searched for the Eurobarometer report and downloaded it. It's a pdf file. I'll extract the results on ethnic discrimination later and put them on a new thread.

I remain very sceptic of the published results.

Do you have access to a report about "racist" views in different European countries?

They are usually surveyed in such a manner that statements of the legitimacy of ethnic nationalism and or of facts like "African immigrants commit more crime" or characterized as racist so this kind of survey would give a good indication of the prospects of success for nationalist parties in those countries.

[Caesar Princeps]

Originally Posted by Mynydd

In Sweden, 86% of those asked in the survey took the view that ethnic minorities enrich the country's culture. Fewer than 4 out of 10 respondents shared this opinion in Malta (32%) and Cyprus (39%).

This surprises me not. Malta and Cyprus are on first line. They can see Islamistan from their coasts. I am not amazed by the fact they answered so.
On the other hand, Sweden has unfortunately been ruled by Social Democracy for years and years of Cultural Marxism, which promoted multiculturalism, multiracialism and so on... I think that this is the main reason behind this appalling survey result.

[Arthur Gordon Pym]

It just means that Sweden is the most Americanized country of Europe!

[Menydh]

Originally Posted by Tennyson

Do you have access to a report about "racist" views in different European countries?

No. I found one repot about "Racism" and "Xenophobia" in the EC, from 1989. A piece of rubbish, but it almost made me cry. The report was constantly reminding that there was a clear division between Spain, Portugal, Ireland and --to a lesser extent-- Italy, and the rest of Europe. Such division was motivated by the fact that, for example in Spain, the identification of a "foreigner" was correlated to an EC-country member. Whereas in the "rest" a foreigner was a non-European.

I'm old enough to remember, and to know that the worst business we've ever done is getting in the European Union.

They are usually surveyed in such a manner that statements of the legitimacy of ethnic nationalism and or of facts like "African immigrants commit more crime" or characterized as racist so this kind of survey would give a good indication of the prospects of success for nationalist parties in those countries.

I'm appalled by the report. It doesn't correlate at all with the general feeling of the people here. And I'm not speaking of just my personal view, but I have compared it with an official report by the Institute of Sociology here. People are given a list of 30+1 (i.e. +none) problems in Spain.

First, they are asked to pick 3 choices in importance. Immigration comes clearly first.
Second, they are asked to pick only 1 choice (i.e. the most important problem). Again, immigration comes clearly first.
Only when asked about he problem which affects more the individual on a personal level, immigration comes second on the 3 choice answer and fourth on the 1 choice answer.

Originally Posted by prometheus

It just means that Sweden is the most Americanized country of Europe!

Americanism is not very popular in Sweden as far as I know. Maybe in Norway?

[Arthur Gordon Pym]

Originally Posted by Mynydd

Americanism is not very popular in Sweden as far as I know. Maybe in Norway?

I am not talking about Swedes exalting Americanism (they obviously aren't). I just want to say that multiculturalism in itself is an American-British invention.

Infact, European nations, with their towns divided in ethnic neighbourhoods, isn't it a sign of a Europe becoming every day more and more Americanized? In US they have Negro, Portorican etc. separate ethnic communities for very long time. USA was a multicultural nation from the very beginning.

[wilpuri]

Originally Posted by prometheus

I am not talking about Swedes exalting Americanism (they obviously aren't). I just want to say that multiculturalism in itself is an American-British invention.

Infact, European nations, with their towns divided in ethnic neighbourhoods, isn't it a sign of a Europe becoming every day more and more Americanized? In US they have Negro, Portorican etc. separate ethnic communities for very long time. USA was a multicultural nation from the very beginning.

We need not blame the British or the Americans for the stupidity and treachery of our own 'leaders'. Sweden, very much unlike America, supports multiculturalism probably mostly on 'humanist' values and Marxist internationalism. It really is the flip-side of the same coin as the American be-all-you-can-be capitalism, but it still doesn't make it Americanism.

[Menydh]

Originally Posted by wilpuri

We need not blame the British or the Americans for the stupidity and treachery of our own 'leaders'.

If you have to fight off a problem, you must absolutely understand the roots of the problem, not just the more recent details.

[wilpuri]

Originally Posted by Mynydd

If you have to fight off a problem, you must absolutely understand the roots of the problem, not just the more recent details.

Sure. Care to elaborate?

[Tennyson]

Originally Posted by prometheus

I am not talking about Swedes exalting Americanism (they obviously aren't). I just want to say that multiculturalism in itself is an American-British invention.

Really? I remind you of European countries such as Belgium and Switzerland which was multicultural before America even existed.

[Behelit]

Originally Posted by Tennyson

Really? I remind you of European countries such as Belgium and Switzerland which was multicultural before America even existed.

there is a difference between culture and language

[wilpuri]

Originally Posted by Tennyson

Really? I remind you of European countries such as Belgium and Switzerland which was multicultural before America even existed.

Do not confuse multi-ethnic states with the ideology of multiculturalism. Multi-ethnic states and empires have existed for god knows how long. This has usually caused problems and extra bureaucracy for the government of such areas. Multiculturalism preaches that this a positive, enriching phenomena.