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Diversity Barometer 2020: Attitudes towards Immigration and Ethnic Diversity in Sweden

Author

Listed:
  • Jimmy Stephen Munobwa

    (Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, University of Gävle, 801 76 Gävle, Sweden)

  • Fereshteh Ahmadi

    (Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, University of Gävle, 801 76 Gävle, Sweden)

  • Mehrdad Darvishpour

    (School of Health, Care and Social Welfare, Mälardalen University, P.O. Box 883, 721 23 Västerås, Sweden)

Abstract

Migration is topical in many counties, and attitudes towards immigration and ethnic diversity are volatile. In our longitudinal “Diversity Barometer”, we have studied changes in Swedes’ attitudes towards immigration and ethnic diversity in Sweden since 2005, using a postal questionnaire sent to a random sample of the Swedish population aged 18–75. In this article, we analyzed data from 2020 ( n = 1035) in comparison with previous Diversity Barometer surveys from 2005 to 2018. The findings showed that Swedes had increased contact with immigrants from the Middle East, Asia and Africa. The majority had good experiences of studying or working with people with foreign background, although those with bad experiences had also increased. Attitudes towards immigration and ethnic diversity were more positive in 2020, thereby stopping a negative trend that started with the refugee influx in 2015. Positive attitudes were more established among women, younger people, those with higher education, people living in larger cities and those with more contact with people with foreign background. Sympathizers of political parties closer to the left wing were more positive towards immigration and ethnic diversity. We used political correctness, contact theory, strain theory and theory about group conflict/threats to provide hypothetical explanations for the observed changes in attitudes.

Suggested Citation

  • Jimmy Stephen Munobwa & Fereshteh Ahmadi & Mehrdad Darvishpour, 2021. "Diversity Barometer 2020: Attitudes towards Immigration and Ethnic Diversity in Sweden," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-20, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:10:y:2021:i:10:p:401-:d:659420
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ahmed, Ali M. & Hammarstedt, Mats, 2008. "Discrimination in the rental housing market: A field experiment on the Internet," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(2), pages 362-372, September.
    2. Mathias Ericson, 2018. "“Sweden Has Been Naïve”: Nationalism, Protectionism and Securitisation in Response to the Refugee Crisis of 2015," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(4), pages 95-102.
    3. Hainmueller, Jens & Hiscox, Michael J., 2007. "Educated Preferences: Explaining Attitudes Toward Immigration in Europe," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 61(2), pages 399-442, April.
    4. Lina Aldén & Mats Hammarstedt & Emma Neuman, 2015. "Ethnic Segregation, Tipping Behavior, and Native Residential Mobility," International Migration Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(1), pages 36-69, March.
    5. Bram Lancee & Sergi Pardos-Prado, 2013. "Group Conflict Theory in a Longitudinal Perspective: Analyzing the Dynamic Side of Ethnic Competition," International Migration Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(1), pages 106-131, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Susanne Wallman Lundåsen, 2023. "Intergroup Contacts, Neighborhood Diversity, and Community Trust: the Asymmetrical Impact of Negative and Positive Experiences," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 163-188, March.
    2. Adrián Groglopo & Fereshteh Ahmadi & Jimmy Stephen Munobwa, 2023. "Structural Racism in Sweden: Framing Attitudes towards Immigrants through the Diversity Barometer Study (2005–2022)," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-20, July.

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