Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

(Un)making Strangers? Exploring integration discourse in local projects

Nordevall, Emma LU (2020) CMEM01 20201
Centre for Middle Eastern Studies
Abstract
This thesis uses a phenomenological approach to explore attitudes and meanings of integration work made by local project workers and volunteers. Relating to previous literature which critiques ‘integration’ as a highly problematic concept, as well as drawing on insights from social theory and the concept of imagined communities, the study contributes to shed light on citizens’ making of an integration discourse. In conclusion, the thesis establishes three significant themes which reveal how participants make sense of integration: Supporting the welfare state, Erasing borders and Negotiating boundaries of a ‘Swedish’ community. As participants make sense of integration, I argue that they on the one hand draw on a sociological notion of... (More)
This thesis uses a phenomenological approach to explore attitudes and meanings of integration work made by local project workers and volunteers. Relating to previous literature which critiques ‘integration’ as a highly problematic concept, as well as drawing on insights from social theory and the concept of imagined communities, the study contributes to shed light on citizens’ making of an integration discourse. In conclusion, the thesis establishes three significant themes which reveal how participants make sense of integration: Supporting the welfare state, Erasing borders and Negotiating boundaries of a ‘Swedish’ community. As participants make sense of integration, I argue that they on the one hand draw on a sociological notion of integration, and on the other hand they are influenced by a media and political rhetoric use of ‘integration’ which prioritises Islam’s visibility in society and “multiculturalism”. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Nordevall, Emma LU
supervisor
organization
course
CMEM01 20201
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Integration project, Integration Discourse, Sweden, Stranger, imagined communities, social imaginaries, interviews
language
English
id
9030200
date added to LUP
2020-10-05 10:50:28
date last changed
2020-10-05 10:50:28
@misc{9030200,
  abstract     = {{This thesis uses a phenomenological approach to explore attitudes and meanings of integration work made by local project workers and volunteers. Relating to previous literature which critiques ‘integration’ as a highly problematic concept, as well as drawing on insights from social theory and the concept of imagined communities, the study contributes to shed light on citizens’ making of an integration discourse. In conclusion, the thesis establishes three significant themes which reveal how participants make sense of integration: Supporting the welfare state, Erasing borders and Negotiating boundaries of a ‘Swedish’ community. As participants make sense of integration, I argue that they on the one hand draw on a sociological notion of integration, and on the other hand they are influenced by a media and political rhetoric use of ‘integration’ which prioritises Islam’s visibility in society and “multiculturalism”.}},
  author       = {{Nordevall, Emma}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{(Un)making Strangers? Exploring integration discourse in local projects}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}