Daniel Blennow

Swedishness in Swedish Integration Policy: the Function of Contemporary Swedish Integration Policy and the Articulation of a Hegemonic Discourse on Swedishness Daniel Blennow

Integration policy is the effect of a certain political rationality in a given time and space. To understand the function of Swedish integration policy one has to understand the political rationality and the social antagonisms active in the formation of the policy. A central step towards understanding the contemporary political rationality of Swedish integration policy is to understand how a hegemonic discourse on swedishness is articulated, how a Swedish subject is produced and positioned and which discursive changes that has occurred since its initiation. Restricted immigration to Sweden was initiated by the Swedish state during the economic regression and crisis in the 1960s and 70s. Along these restrictions a goal oriented generalized integration policy was put into place. This research is about Swedish integration policy and it leads to an investigation of the Swedish class society, from norms regarding the formation of the normal Swedish family, gender relations to the responsible Swedish worker.