Trouble in Paradise, the Migrant Crisis in Sweden
Good morning. Welcome back to Surviving in the World (SIW), your newsletter written by CI students for anyone interested in global affairs. We always try to present select topics in global news in an easy-to-understand format.
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Brought to you by: Rachel Jung('27).
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Word Count: 547 / Time: 5 minute read.
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​​​​​Source: Eurostat • *excludes EU countries of less than 1mn people: Cyprus (=15.8), Luxembourg (=0), Malta (=5.8)
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What’s happened?
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Sweden, often associated with being a peaceful country, has seen a rise in gang-related crimes in the 2020s. According to reports, Sweden has the highest gun crime rate per capita in the European Union, with 363 gun-related crimes reported last year alone. In Stockholm, the gun crime rate death rate per capita was more than 30 times higher than the death rate due to gun crime in London.
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The crime problem stems from a large gang presence numbering around 50 gangs with approximately 30,000 members.
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In the past four months, nearly 25 violent crimes have been committed by Swedish teenagers affiliated with Danish gangs.
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Bombings have also become increasingly frequent with 139 bombings committed by gangs in the previous year.​​
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Why?
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Unfortunately, the rise in these crimes is directly linked to Sweden's provision of refuge for hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing from countries such as Somalia, Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq.
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Manne Guerrell, a professor of criminology at Malmö University in Sweden, stated that "The problem of crime was caused by the poor social integration of immigrants.
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Nearly 30% of second-generation immigrants and refugees are involved in gangs.
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Danish gangs have recruited and employed teenagers under the age of 15, who are exempt from criminal responsibility, for drug trafficking and contract murder.
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Crime is also on the rise because of the unemployment levels in Sweden’s “vulnerable regions,” which have higher crime rates than any other Swedish region.
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What impact is this rise in violent crime having?
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This rise in violent crime has tainted Sweden’s image as the safest country in the world and may have an impact on Sweden’s economic growth.
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According to a survey carried out by the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce, 8 out of 10 Swedish companies find it difficult to find foreign talent, attract foreign investments, and bring in tourists due to the high crime rate.
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Sweden’s national budget for military mobilization and large-scale police operations is increasing.
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Why should you care?
As the world watches Sweden try to amend its mistakes in lax immigration policies, South Korea must heed this preview of what could happen in the near future.
With one of the lowest birth rates in the world, Korea may consider a push towards immigration as an option in the future.The Korean government would be wise to take into consideration what has happened in Sweden and understand that immigration, while providing safety and opportunity for those less fortunate, may also disrupt the status quo of Korean society.
Preparations for the Future: Taking Sweden’s experience into account, Korea should implement social integration programs—such as language education, vocational training, and cultural adaptation initiatives—strengthen legal rights and support systems for immigrants, and ensure practical employment opportunities before increasing immigration. Additionally, it is essential to enhance public education and outreach activities to reduce negative prejudices or misunderstandings about immigrants, and to provide adequate housing for those in difficult economic circumstances. Furthermore, we need to create an environment that can positively embrace change while maintaining national identity.
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