The End For Immigrants In SWEEDEN

 

https://youtu.be/oWZzrtQ0Fpc?si=5K0sx2XUCo2SIkf9

This video explains how Sweden's immigration dream collapsed due to significant policy changes, shifts in migration policy, and pressure on its asylum system (0:54).

Here's a breakdown of the key points:

• Early History and Rise to Prosperity (1:05-4:15): Sweden transformed from one of Europe's poorest nations in the 19th century into one of the wealthiest by the mid-1970s. This was due to a strong work ethic, abundant natural resources like iron ore and timber, strategic industrialization, and neutrality during both World Wars, which left its infrastructure intact.

• Cultural Cohesion and the "People's Home" (2:59-4:16): Until the 1970s, Sweden was characterized by remarkable social cohesion, shared language, religious background, and high trust in institutions. This fostered a "people's home" vision, where solidarity, contribution, and shared responsibility were central.

• Shift to Multiculturalism under Olof Palme (4:37-7:16): In the 1970s, Prime Minister Olof Palme aimed to make Sweden a moral example to the world. In 1975, a landmark policy shifted from assimilation to institutionalized multiculturalism, guaranteeing immigrants equal rights and the freedom to preserve their language and identity, without demanding cultural adaptation.

• Increasing Immigration and Emerging Challenges (7:17-10:11): For decades, Sweden maintained its open-door policy, receiving refugees from Latin America, Iran, the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Horn of Africa. By 2010, immigrants constituted 14.3% of the population. However, this led to visible segregation, rising unemployment, and cultural differences, straining integration systems.

• The 2015 Migration Crisis and Its Impact (8:56-10:11): The breaking point came in 2015 when Sweden, with a population of 10 million, received 163,000 asylum applications in 12 months, mainly from Syria—the highest per capita rate in the OECD. By 2024, immigrants made up 20% of the population, leading to overwhelmed public services and a reshaping of neighborhoods and national identity.

• Failures in Integration and Welfare Dependence (10:12-13:11): Sweden's top-down integration model failed to effectively integrate newcomers. Citizenship was granted without language or employment requirements, and extensive welfare benefits often led to dependence rather than integration into the workforce. For example, only 18% of well-educated Iranian immigrants entered the workforce in Sweden, compared to 36% more than native-born Americans in the U.S.

• Rise of Vulnerable Areas and Declining Education (13:12-15:58): The number of "vulnerable areas" (marked by social exclusion, unemployment, and low educational outcomes) increased significantly, with 59 such areas by 2023. Public schools in these areas struggled, leading to a decline in international assessment scores (PISA 2022 results showed 25% of 15-year-olds failing basic math skills).

• Escalating Crime and Official Silence (15:59-17:40): Organized crime became a major issue, with gun homicide rates in Stockholm significantly higher than London's. Criminal networks exploited welfare programs, and official data on crime and ethnic background was withheld for about 15 years, leading to a lack of honest discussion and a deepening of societal divisions.

• Political Shift and Policy Changes (20:21-23:09): The long-suppressed frustration found a voice in the Sweden Democrats, an anti-immigration party that became the second-largest in parliament by 2022. This led to concrete policy changes, including tightened requirements for benefits, mandatory preschool attendance for immigrant children, and sharply reduced net immigration. Public discourse also shifted, allowing for more open reporting on issues previously considered taboo.

• The Deeper Lesson (23:09-23:29): The video concludes that a society is not just held together by laws or budgets, but by a shared sense of belonging, which, once broken, is difficult to rebuild.