Organized antagonism. The nexus between organized crime and violent extremism in Sweden

• In Event: Violent Extremism and Organized Crime in Sweden 2

Abstract

Over the past 30 years, Sweden has witnessed a growth in criminal gangs and violent extremism. Gang-related gun violence and the use of hand grenades in criminal conflicts has risen and only recently gained wide political attention. As an example, among males aged 15 to 29 years the risk increase for victimization has increased by fivefold for homicidal and non-homicidal gun violence during a 20-years observation period. In comparison, the rate of gun homicide victimization among males 15 to 29 years was higher in Sweden compared to 12 other Western European countries. In the past seven years, 116 detonated hand grenade attacks were carried out by criminal elements in Sweden. Sweden is also among the European countries with the highest number of foreign fighters per capita who have joined terror organizations such as Al-Qaeda and Daesh, second only to Belgium and Austria. Criminal gangs, gun violence and violent extremism are prevalent, partially overlapping phenomena that constitute social challenges. This study is investigating the crime-extremism nexus in Sweden, with focus on network patterns between violent “Islamic extremism” and “organized crime”.

Author

• Amir Rostami, Stockholm University / Swedish Institute for Futures Studies