Features of the Intercultural Conflict: A Case Study

In the 1990s, in Sweden, the development of new approaches to immigration policy, called integration policy, began. Special attention was paid to the issues of segregation in education, employment, housing policy, and combating discrimination against immigrants. The basis for the discussions was not only the problems of inequality and the disunity of society but also the desire to reduce the costs of immigration policy. The authorities sought to stimulate the independence of immigrants and their social activity. Granting political rights to immigrants, attracting them to work in self-government bodies, and stimulating the electoral participation of immigrants in political life are attempts to extend the mechanism characteristic of Swedish political life to the immigrant community. Sweden faces challenges to its well-being, habitual way of life, traditions, and national and civic dignity. It is important, however, that the process of developing responses to these challenges proceeds with the utmost care; public opinion is widely included in it; society, the state, and individual citizens base their activities on mutual respect; conflicts arising are resolved on the basis of compromises. This makes the inevitable social transformations less painful.