Welcome to the Migration Seminar!

Paradigm Change in Swedish Immigration and Integration Policy: Why, How and Where to?

Panel discussion with Henrik Emilsson, Ann-Cathrine Jungar and Andreas Asplén Lundstedt.

Abstract

From the late 1990s and onwards, Sweden became known as the exception to a European trend of stricter immigration and integration policies across Europe. As a model, Swedish exceptionalism was defined by high migrant volumes per capita with a strong emphasis on humanitarian reasons (asylum and family re-union), by low thresholds for permanent residence and citizenship, and by vol-untary and rights-based integration. This model was animated by ideas that in-voked the moral value of international solidarity and multiculturalism as well as the national benefits of immigration and diversity. Over the last decade, howev-er, Sweden has developed into a less exceptional and more mainstream EU country. So much so that it is fair to talk about a paradigm change. In this panel discussion we have invited three experts to shed light on this change. Why and how did this paradigm shift take place? And where is it taking Swedish immigra-tion and integration policy?

Moderator: Christian Fernández, Associate Professor in Political Science, Department of Global Political Studies (GPS), Malmö University

Short bios

Henrik Emilsson is Senior Lecturer at Global Political Studies and researcher at Malmö Institute for Migration Studies at Malmö University. His research focuses on migration and integration policy, with a particular emphasis on why states design their policies the way they do, and the consequences these policies have. His current work examines Sweden’s policy choices in the field of migration, specifically why the country pursued a generous approach for a long time, only to shift course significantly within a relatively short period.

Ann-Cathrine Jungar is professor in political science at Södertörn University. Her current research focuses on radical right parties in Europe, with a particular emphasis on the Nordic cases. She is particularly interested in their Ideology, organization and transnational contacts. She is the co-author of Youth Wings of the Populist Radical Right (Oxford, 2026), editor of The Nordic Populist Radical Right (Routledge, 2025) and co-author of a recent report to Delmi (2024:3) on the restrictive change in Swedish migration policy.

Andreas Asplén Lundstedt is Assistant Professor of Public Administration at the University of Gothenburg. He has done research on the history, techniques and institutions of state migration control, in Sweden, the EU and North America. He is currently engaged in a comparative project on the intertwining of social work and police work across Europe.

Attendance

This is a hybrid seminar, you are welcome to connect via Zoom or join us at MIM seminar room, floor 9, Niagara, Nordenskiöldsgatan 1. To attend on campus, please gather by the reception area at 13.05.

Join the meeting on Zoom

Meeting-ID: 670 4890 4003

If you have any questions, send an email to mim@mau.se.

 

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