Identity and Belonging in Exclusionary Contexts: But What Does It Mean to Be Swedish?

• In Event: 30420 - Section on Racial and Ethnic Minorities Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 2: Racing Europe

Abstract

This paper examines how ethnic and racial minorities in Sweden navigate self-identification and belonging in an exclusionary national context. Adapting a question from the Pew Research Center’s 2016 Global Attitudes Survey, I asked both majority Swedes and ethnic and racial minorities: “In your opinion, what characteristics are most important for someone to be considered Swedish?”

The 50 in-depth interviews I conducted reveal notable differences in perspectives between majority Swedes and ethnic and racial minorities. Among majority Swedes, Swedish identity is predominantly understood through civic criteria, emphasizing respect for Swedish political institutions and laws. In contrast, minorities tend to highlight the ethnic and exclusionary dimensions of Swedish national identity.

In delving into the nuances of self-identification among the second generation, my research highlights the role of ethnoracial hierarchy that influences the degree to which individuals identify as Swedish and are accepted as Swedish. This hierarchy grants individuals who are perceived as being closer to whiteness more flexibility in embracing and being recognized as Swedish, while those of Middle Eastern and African backgrounds, despite their sense of Swedishness, often face denials of their Swedish identity. As a result, individuals from Middle Eastern and African backgrounds exhibit a stronger attachment to their ethnic identity than other members of the second generation. Their inclination toward ethnic identification, however, should not be seen solely as a reaction to exclusion and denial but also as a source of pride, belonging, and security.

Drawing on Fernández’s (2019) concept of “thin citizenship” and Beaman’s (2017) framework of “citizen outsiders,” my findings suggest that formal citizenship alone is insufficient for fostering national identity and inclusion. Moreover, the supposed inclusivity of civic understandings of nationhood remains deeply questionable. Finally, this paper emphasizes the importance of examining the nuances within the category of “foreign background.”

Author

• Beiyi Hu, Oberlin College and Conservatory