The Swedish government is preparing to conduct an extensive survey to map immigrants’ values, aiming to guide the country’s future integration policy. The initiative, led by newly appointed Minister for Integration Simona Mohamsson of The Liberals (Liberalerna), underscores Sweden’s ambition to preserve its core democratic values while enhancing the integration of newcomers.
Mapping values to shape integration
In 2023, the government set out an objective to explore the values held by immigrants in Sweden. This year, the task has been formally assigned to the World Values Survey (WVS), an international research network specializing in comparative studies on human values and cultural changes.
Starting this autumn, the WVS will interview around 3,000 residents across Sweden. Half of the respondents will have a fully Swedish background, while the other half will come from non-Western backgrounds. The survey will focus on topics such as views on gender equality, individual freedoms, and societal trust.
According to the government, the findings could become a framework for adjusting integration policies, potentially influencing areas such as education and employment support programmes.
Upholding Swedish liberal values
Minister Mohamsson describes Sweden as “an extremely country, in a good way,” referring to its distinctive position as a liberal democracy with strong commitments to equality and individual rights. “For people who become part of our society, it gets a little difficult to navigate that map,” she told the Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter (DN).
She stressed that the project is not about forcing anyone to change their opinions, but about ensuring that Sweden’s fundamental values are respected by all who live there. “It becomes strange if we say that some people don’t need to have these values,” she added.
A broader European context
The initiative comes amid wider European debates on integration, cultural cohesion, and social trust, as many countries grapple with demographic changes and migration flows. While some critics may view such surveys as controversial, Sweden’s government insists it is a tool to better understand societal dynamics and ensure policies are evidence-based.
The first results of the WVS survey are expected next year and will likely feed into the government’s ongoing efforts to refine its integration strategies.
