Racism in Scandinavia?

[Flying Purple People Eater]

Just how bad is it?

A friend of mine said he was put off going on a trip to Sweden because of a documentary he saw about some nativist hitlerites walking around and terrorising people of colour.

[Stalinist Speaker]

yep you got bout 10% that are supporting racist parties in sweden. But you also has an very strong and brave anti-facist movement in sweden.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wAzFF8za-Y

[Fakeblock]

Racist violence exists and escalates once in a while, but it's not really anything to worry about as a tourist. I don't think racism in Scandinavia is worse than in most other European countries tbh.

[Hrafn]

It depends entirely on how you act and look, where you go, and when. The 90's were real bad Nazi-wise, but active anti-fascism put it down on the larger level. Fascist violence still happens, and often, but not everywhere. As always, there's certain risk areas. I'd say "casual" discrimination is something you'd face though, if you look "non-Swedish" enough.

[Igor]

It depends entirely on how you act and look, where you go, and when. The 90's were real bad Nazi-wise, but active anti-fascism put it down on the larger level. Fascist violence still happens, and often, but not everywhere. As always, there's certain risk areas. I'd say "casual" discrimination is something you'd face though, if you look "non-Swedish" enough.

yeah, and to add, a lot of the "casual" discrimination aspects of racism in scandinavia would be invisible to tourists - difficulties at renting a flat, getting a job, general distrust.

of course this is my whitey perspective to this all but i'd say it's a bit hyperbolic to say we've any more problems with violent racism than rest of europe. 90s were pretty bad nazi years especially in certain cities but that's in the past for the most parts now. drunks can get racist and abusive if you're alone, though, and it's something to keep in mind.

also it's not a simple question of skin colour, and it never has been. it's an entirely different world for a black american tourist as opposed to a somali immigrant. a lot of the shit stains who despise the latter will have no problem with sharing a pint with the former.

sweden is a cool place, most swedes are nice people and places like stockholm are diverse and you won't stick out no matter what colour. def worth a visit

[Zukunftsmusik]

I don't have much to add, except to confirm what most people have said. In Norway you'll most likely experience day-to-day racism, not armed gangs of nazis or whatever. Violent nazis/racists are not very active beyond some minor demonstrations by NDL and similar groups (NDL, however, is beginning to fall apart AFAIK). I think, as Igor rightly points out, that most of this day-to-day racism is "hidden" and falls on people who actually lives here. In the national political debate it's pretty normal to talk about immigrants etc. in pretty harsh terms, but I guess that's not very different from any other country.

[Hrafn]

yeah, and to add, a lot of the "casual" discrimination aspects of racism in scandinavia would be invisible to tourists - difficulties at renting a flat, getting a job, general distrust.

of course this is my whitey perspective to this all but i'd say it's a bit hyperbolic to say we've any more problems with violent racism than rest of europe. 90s were pretty bad nazi years especially in certain cities but that's in the past for the most parts now. drunks can get racist and abusive if you're alone, though, and it's something to keep in mind.

also it's not a simple question of skin colour, and it never has been. it's an entirely different world for a black american tourist as opposed to a somali immigrant. a lot of the shit stains who despise the latter will have no problem with sharing a pint with the former.

sweden is a cool place, most swedes are nice people and places like stockholm are diverse and you won't stick out no matter what colour. def worth a visit

Well, I'm inclined to disagree regarding the violence, but that's probably because I'm from the south-west, and a particular area where a lot of violent Nazism is going on.

[Flying Purple People Eater]

Well, I'm inclined to disagree regarding the violence, but that's probably because I'm from the south-west, and a particular area where a lot of violent Nazism is going on.

Wait - people in Sweden live anywhere other than the South-West? :confused:


I thought 95% of the country was frozen wasteland! I'm just going to slam my head against a wall now.

[Hrafn]

Wait - people in Sweden live anywhere other than the South-West? :confused:


I thought 95% of the country was frozen wasteland! I'm just going to slam my head against a wall now.

Now that's oddly offensive. :crying:

By south-west, I meant this part (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%A4stra_G%C3%B6taland_County).

[Goblin]

Not sure about the rest of Scandinavia, but anti-semitism is a pretty big problem in Norway.

[Hrafn]

Not sure about the rest of Scandinavia, but anti-semitism is a pretty big problem in Norway.

Wide-scale in Sweden, I wouldn't say it's a very large problem, outside of the Nazi milieu. Basically no one I know have met a Jew, nor have any opinions about them.

In cities like Malmö, with an actual Jewish population, it can be pretty bad, though. I don't have any actual facts at hand atm, but it's bad, yeah.