It is not always easy for a Dutch person who likes to keep up with Swedish news. Because so much Swedish news usually does not end up on the Dutch news apps. In Sweden a lot goes as it should and no news is good news.
That is not just a feeling, it is often supported by research. For example, Sweden is always at the top of lists with the most developed countries in the world, the most happy or the most free.
Sweden on the front pages
But in recent weeks, the Scandinavian country has suddenly been on the front pages. Today because of disturbances at an Eritrean festival in the capital Stockholm. Just last week we became acquainted with the phenomenon of Swedish football hooligans, when fans of Hammarby clashed with those of FC Twente. That looked like this:
There were also Koran burnings in the country. The holy book was set on fire in various places, mainly at embassies of predominantly Islamic countries. At other times, it was kicked or stepped on. Sweden did not ban the protests.
In the meantime, the terror alert has risen by one category and border controls have been tightened.
We are talking about the past few weeks above, in fact we should even look at the past months. In September last year, Sweden made a ‘pull to the right’. The always so left-wing country suddenly voted for the other side of the political spectrum. The big reasons for that: immigration and the gang violence that grips Sweden.
More violence
Once again, violence comes into play. “If you look at the crime rate in Sweden, it has never been lower in the past than it is now,” says Ryan Switzer of Stockholm University. “But if you look at violent crime, that number has never been higher.” Violence is really more common now.
“It’s not pretty either,” says Switzer. “The number of shootings is increasing. A 14-year-old was recently shot dead in the south of Stockholm. That does not help to improve your image abroad. Because all these outbursts of violence quickly reach the media.”
It is often the extreme right-wing people who make the link between the violence and immigration. But that is not true according to Switzer. “Sweden opened its doors in 2015 when mainly Syrians came to Europe. In one fell swoop the country gained more than 100,000 people. But research shows that this had no effect on the number of violent incidents.”
Inequality is increasing rapidly
“What does play a role is unemployment or a lack of education. These are factors that mainly play a role in the suburbs of large cities, including the neighborhoods where many immigrants live. In addition, inequality encourages violence. And that inequality is growing in Sweden In fact, it is not growing so fast in any other Western country.”
The differences between the center and the suburbs are therefore particularly large. “People who live and work in the safe center of Stockholm can hardly imagine life in the suburbs,” says Switzer.
Another factor is the rise of extreme right-wing parties in the country. They did very well in the last election. “It took much longer for such parties to emerge in Sweden than in other European countries. They often make the link between violence and immigration, have their own news channels and play on people’s fears.”
‘Zweden is failed state’
In other words, they are the first to speak openly about the problems. And they often make it to the media with statements they make on this theme. That was not the case before. “It is not that there was no violence then, but politicians and the media spoke less about it. There are now far-right people who want to portray Sweden as a failed state. But that is absolutely not the case.”
Good news for the increasing number of Dutch people who book their holiday to Sweden because of the heat in southern Europe. Their vacation is not going to a failed state and you don’t have to be afraid for your safety in the vast majority of places. “Sweden has problems, but no country is 100 percent perfect. It is still a well-functioning country and in cities like Stockholm I still feel very safe,” says Switzer.
2023-08-04 20:39:15
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