Problematic Yet Needed : Shifting Problematisations of Migrant Reception in Malmö 1945–1970

Publication Type:
article-journal
Date Issued:
2021
Authors:
Pål Brunnström , Robert Nilsson Mohammadi
Publisher:
Brill Academic Publishers
Language:
eng
Page:
327-356
DOI:
10.1163/23519924-00703006

Keywords:

Sociology and Political Science Anthropology History Cultural Studies Demography Migration Urban history Racialisation Post war Europe

This article describes and analyses by whom, in what ways and with what consequences migrant reception was performed in Malmö during the period 1945–1970 and how this changed over time. Inspired by Carol Bacchi’s ‘what’s the problem represented to be’ (wpr) approach, the article analyses the shifting problematisations of migrant reception in Malmö, and argues that there were two decisive shifts in Malmö’s migrant reception policy. With the help of Robert Miles’ concept of racialisation, the article shows that different migrant groups were racialised in different ways, depending on how they were depicted by the Swedish society. We also identify a gendered racialisation as women and men were racialised differently.