Welcome to a panel discussion at the Gothenburg City Library. The evening will begin with brief presentations followed by an in-depth conversation about young people living in suburban areas, with a focus on identity, stigma, and social conditions.
In public debate, suburban areas are often portrayed through narratives of segregation, crime, social exclusion, and failed integration. These portrayals shape not only how such areas are understood in politics and the media, but also how the people who live there are perceived and categorized in everyday life. Drawing on current research, this seminar explores how young people in structurally disadvantaged neighbourhoods relate to these narratives and how they affect experiences of belonging, inclusion, and exclusion.
The discussion will address research on how young people view their neighbourhoods, schools, and identities, as well as how stigma and stereotypes influence everyday life. It will also examine how perceptions of Islam, culture, and Swedish identity shape the conditions of young people who are associated with suburban communities while also belonging to a religious minority.
In addition, the panel will consider how school closures and other reforms aimed at reducing educational segregation affect young people’s experiences of belonging, identity formation, and social relationships.
This event is part of the Centre on Global Migration’s series on migration and integration in Swedish politics, which addresses some of the most pressing issues in the lead-up to the 2026 election. CGM is part of the University of Gothenburg.
Speakers
Nils Hammarén is Professor of Child and Youth Studies at the Department of Education, Communication and Learning at the University of Gothenburg. He has participated in several research projects focusing on young people in disadvantaged urban areas, with particular attention to identity, gender, education, and segregation.
Ylva Svensson is Associate Professor at University West. Her research focuses on young people’s identity development, particularly ethnic identity and belonging. She also studies the everyday lives and leisure activities of young women living in suburban areas.
Christopher Ali Thorén holds a PhD in Educational Sciences. His 2024 dissertation, Muslims, School, and the Suburb, examines the experiences of Muslim students in Swedish schools. Since then, he has studied and worked with the City of Gothenburg’s youth initiative Resilience Against Racism, which supports young people who experience racism.
Moderator
Zulmir Bečević, Associate Professor of Social Work
About the Seminar Series
During the 2026 election year, migration and integration remain high on the political agenda. At the same time, public debate is marked by deep divisions. But what does research tell us?
Throughout the year, the Centre on Global Migration (CGM) at the University of Gothenburg is hosting a seminar series in which researchers offer different perspectives on one of the most debated issues of our time. Participants will gain insight into current research findings and lessons learned from practical work in areas that are central to Sweden’s migration policy debates.
The aim is to create a meeting place where academic knowledge, professional experience, and broader societal perspectives can come together.
The series includes lectures, panel discussions, and seminars, and is open to the general public, students, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.
By bringing together research, and public debate, the seminar series seeks to contribute to a more informed and evidence-based conversation about migration and integration in Sweden during the 2026 election year.
Programme Autumn 2026
- 7 september, kl. 18.00-19.30, Gothenburg City Library: Seminar and panel discussion at Gothenburg City Library on suburban communities as political scapegoats in the public debate?
- 9 October, 10:00–12:00, Department of Education and Special Education, University of Gothenburg: Seminar at the Department of Education and Special Education on the politics of language testing and critical perspectives on assessment and language education for migrants
- 13 October, 18:00-19:00, Gothenburg City: Seminar and panel discussion at Gothenburg City Library on the ongoing crisis at Europe’s borders: silenced voices and forbidden places.
- 14 October, 12:00–13:00, Gothenburg City Library: Seminar and panel discussion at Gothenburg City Library on Language Introduction, Language Testing, and the Conditions for Participation.
- 24 November, 18:00–19:30, Gothenburg City Library: Seminar and panel discussion at Gothenburg City Library on “integration panic” and diversity in everyday life.
