Inside Europe’s most dramatic migration experiment – The Christian Science Monitor

 

A Comparative Analysis of Migration Policies in Denmark and Sweden and Their Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Since 2015, Denmark and Sweden have implemented divergent migration policies, creating a significant case study for examining the challenges of aligning national interests with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This report analyzes the two nations’ contrasting approaches and their subsequent impacts on social, economic, and institutional stability, with a specific focus on SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Policy Divergence and Implications for SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

The core of the divergence relates to Target 10.7 of SDG 10, which calls for orderly, safe, and responsible migration. The two nations interpreted this responsibility in diametrically opposed ways, leading to vastly different outcomes for social inclusion and equality.

Denmark’s Restrictive Framework

Denmark prioritized the preservation of its robust welfare state and national identity, implementing some of Europe’s most stringent immigration laws. These policies created barriers to entry and integration, directly impacting the goal of reducing inequality for migrant populations.

• Reduced social benefits for asylum-seekers.
• Enacted legislation allowing the seizure of valuables from refugees to cover housing and food costs.
• Limited work permits to nationals from a select list of countries, excluding those from the Middle East and Africa.
• Granted asylum to a historically low 864 people in 2024.

Sweden’s Open-Door Policy and Subsequent Reversal

Initially, Sweden embraced a policy of open migration, accepting over 160,000 migrants in 2015. This approach was rooted in a progressive, human-rights-based identity, aligning with the humanitarian spirit of SDG 10. However, the resulting societal challenges led to a significant policy shift, moving closer to the Danish model.

Social and Institutional Impacts: A Focus on SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

The influx of migrants presented significant challenges to public order and institutional capacity, particularly in Sweden, testing the country’s ability to meet SDG 16’s target of reducing violence and building effective, accountable institutions.

Challenges to Public Safety in Sweden

Following 2015, Sweden experienced a dramatic increase in organized crime and violence, undermining progress toward SDG Target 16.1 (significantly reduce all forms of violence).

• Reports of bombings and grenade attacks became common.
• By 2023, Sweden had the second-highest rate of gun violence in Europe.
• The city of Malmö became an epicenter for this violence, with gang leaders often being the Swedish-born children of previous generations of migrants, indicating long-term integration failures.

Institutional Responses and Political Transformation

The societal shifts prompted significant political and institutional responses in both countries.

1. In Denmark, the Social Democratic party adopted a strict immigration platform to regain power, arguing that protecting the welfare state was paramount. This demonstrates an institutional response prioritizing national stability over broader inclusion goals.
2. In Sweden, the rise of the far-right Sweden Democrats and the subsequent adoption of stricter immigration policies reflect a reactive institutional shift driven by public security concerns.

Economic Integration and Urban Development: Addressing SDGs 8 and 11

The long-term success of migration policy is heavily dependent on economic integration and the creation of inclusive urban environments, key tenets of SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Employment and Economic Contribution (SDG 8)

Both nations faced challenges in ensuring migrants could achieve full and productive employment (Target 8.5).

• In Malmö, high unemployment among the migrant population persists, though programs like “Job Tracks” have shown success, with over 80% of participants finding full-time work.
• Denmark’s Finance Ministry calculated that migrants from the Middle East and North Africa represented a net cost of €3.2 billion to the state, a figure used to justify restrictive policies.
• Conversely, Malmö’s thriving gaming industry, where half the workforce is non-Swedish, illustrates the positive economic contributions migrants can make when integrated into high-skill sectors.

Urban Sustainability and Community Cohesion (SDG 11)

The city of Malmö, particularly the Rosengård neighborhood, serves as a microcosm of the challenges and opportunities in building inclusive and sustainable communities (Target 11.7).

• Rosengård initially became synonymous with crime and social decay, but concerted efforts have led to significant reductions in gun deaths and visible signs of revitalization.
• Community-based institutions like the Rosengård public library have adapted to serve local needs, transforming into community hubs offering “language cafés” and other integration services, thereby promoting social cohesion.

The Human Dimension: Social Inclusion and Cultural Identity

Beyond policy and economics, the experiences of individual migrants highlight the profound challenges related to social inclusion and cultural identity, which are foundational to achieving the inclusive societies envisioned by the SDGs.

Challenges to Multiculturalism

Denmark’s emphasis on a homogenous national identity (“Danishness”) contrasts with Sweden’s multicultural model, creating different integration experiences.

• Migrants in Denmark, such as Mojib Wayand, report feeling pressure to compromise their cultural and religious values to be accepted, highlighting a conflict with the principles of cultural diversity and inclusion.
• Organizations like DFUNK (Danish Refugee Council Youth) provide spaces for young migrants to navigate these cultural tensions and advocate for their rights.

Rehabilitation and Reintegration

Efforts to rehabilitate individuals who have fallen into crime are critical for building peaceful and just societies (SDG 16). The story of Farzad Rahimi in Malmö, who is working with the anti-crime initiative Krami to rebuild his life, demonstrates the importance of supportive systems that enable former offenders to reintegrate and contribute positively to society, fulfilling the ultimate goal of leaving no one behind.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article connects to SDG 8 by discussing the economic integration of migrants and refugees. It highlights challenges such as high unemployment rates among the migrant population in Malmö and the long time it can take for them to find jobs. Conversely, it also points to successful integration efforts, like the “Job Tracks” program that helps participants find full-time work, and the positive economic contributions of migrants in sectors like the gaming industry. The article also touches upon the financial aspect from the host country’s perspective, citing a Danish Finance Ministry report on the net fiscal cost of migrants from certain regions, linking migration directly to the national economy.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  This goal is central to the article, which contrasts the divergent migration policies of Denmark and Sweden. These policies directly impact inequalities experienced by migrants and refugees. Denmark’s restrictive laws, such as cutting benefits and seizing valuables, create significant barriers and inequalities. The article explores social inclusion challenges, exemplified by the story of Mojib Wayand, who feels he must compromise his identity to be accepted in Danish society. This highlights the struggle for social inclusion (Target 10.2) and the consequences of different approaches to managing migration (Target 10.7).

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The narrative is framed around two cities, Copenhagen and Malmö, and their experiences with multiculturalism and integration. It addresses community safety by discussing the rise in crime and violence in Malmö and its immigrant neighborhood of Rosengård, but also notes recent improvements like a significant reduction in gun deaths. The article describes community-building initiatives, such as the public library in Rosengård transforming into a community hub that offers language cafés and other essential services, which contributes to making the city more inclusive and resilient.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The article directly relates to SDG 16 by examining the impact of migration on peace and security. It explicitly mentions the dramatic rise in organized crime, bombings, and gun violence in Sweden following the 2015 migrant influx. This addresses the goal of reducing violence (Target 16.1). Furthermore, it scrutinizes the institutional and legal frameworks of both countries. Denmark’s strict laws and Sweden’s initial struggle to manage the large number of arrivals (“The system couldn’t handle it”) reflect on the effectiveness and inclusivity of state institutions in handling migration and maintaining social order.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

1. Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men…

   This target is relevant to the discussion of migrant unemployment in Malmö. The article states, “The unemployment rate here is high,” and shares the story of the deputy mayor’s father, who took 12 years to find a job. The city’s “Job Tracks” program, which helps “more than 80% of participants… find full-time work,” is a direct policy action aimed at achieving this target for the migrant population.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

1. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… origin, religion or other status.

   The article explores the challenges of social inclusion. In Denmark, the experience of Mojib Wayand, who felt he had to “compromise your values for the Danish culture” to be accepted, illustrates the difficulties migrants face. The contrasting Swedish view that “everyone can become Swedish” and Malmö’s efforts to embrace its multicultural identity are examples of promoting social inclusion.

2. Target 10.7: Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies.

   This target is the core theme of the article. It presents a detailed comparison of two different national migration policies: Denmark’s restrictive approach (cutting benefits, seizing valuables, accepting very few refugees) and Sweden’s initial open-door policy. The consequences of these policies—social, economic, and political—are analyzed, providing a case study on the implementation and impact of “well-managed migration policies.”

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

1. Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces…

   The article references public spaces that foster inclusion. The Rosengård public library in Malmö is highlighted not as a place for books but as a vital community space offering “language cafés” and other services to help immigrants integrate. This demonstrates how public institutions can be adapted to create inclusive spaces that meet community needs.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

1. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

   This target is directly addressed by the article’s description of the security situation in Sweden. It states that “organized crime in Sweden has risen dramatically,” with “reports of bombings and grenade attacks.” It also specifies that in 2023, “Sweden had the second-highest rate of gun violence in Europe,” providing a clear connection to the measurement and reduction of violence.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Target 8.5: Full and productive employment

• Unemployment Rate: The article explicitly mentions that the “unemployment rate here is high” among the migrant population in Malmö. This is a direct indicator of employment challenges.
• Number of People Receiving Social Assistance: The article provides specific figures for Malmö, stating that “those receiving social assistance in the city declined from 10,200 to 6,100.” This serves as a proxy indicator for reduced unemployment and increased economic self-sufficiency.

Target 10.7: Well-managed migration policies

• Number of Asylum Seekers/Refugees Accepted: The article provides concrete numbers to compare policies. It states that in 2024, Denmark “granted asylum to 864 people – a historic low,” while Sweden accepted “more than 160,000 migrants” in 2015. These figures are direct indicators of the openness of national migration policies.

Target 16.1: Reduce all forms of violence

• Rate of Gun Violence: The article explicitly states that “Sweden had the second-highest rate of gun violence in Europe.” This is a specific indicator used to measure violent crime.
• Number of Gun Deaths: Progress towards the target is implied when the article notes that in Malmö, “Gun deaths are down significantly in recent years,” indicating a reduction in lethal violence.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs	Targets	Indicators
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth	8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all.	Unemployment rate among migrant populations. Number of people receiving social assistance (declined from 10,200 to 6,100 in Malmö).
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities	10.7: Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people.	Number of asylum seekers and refugees accepted annually (Denmark: 864 in 2024; Sweden: 160,000+ in 2015). Existence of specific restrictive policies (e.g., seizing valuables, cutting benefits).
SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates.	Rate of gun violence (Sweden had the second-highest in Europe). Incidence of organized crime, bombings, and grenade attacks. Change in the number of gun deaths (down significantly in Malmö).

Source: csmonitor.com