Panel discussion about deportation policy, welfare limits and rights in Sweden.
Welcome to a panel discussion at Gothenburg City Library. The discussion begins with short presentations, followed by an in-depth conversation about how the boundaries of the welfare state are shaped in practice—and what this means for people’s living conditions and their access to welfare, rights, and participation in society.
Swedish deportation policy, both historically and today, affects people’s ability to live, work, and access fundamental rights. At the same time, we see new legislative proposals that restrict the rights of asylum seekers and undocumented migrants and lead to increased uncertainty. These include, for example, the withdrawal of daily allowances following a rejected application, proposals to limit municipalities’ ability to provide support, mandatory residence in deportation centres, and changes to how long deportation decisions remain valid.
Taken together, these developments indicate that legal status is becoming increasingly important in determining who is considered entitled to support, security, and recognition in society.
Experiences from Denmark—such as deportation centres and the so-called “ghetto law”—also show how political decisions can create new boundaries within society, with consequences for equality before the law. Boundaries are not only drawn at national borders but also through laws, administrative decisions, and controls within our cities, with significant implications for people’s living conditions and for how we understand the Nordic welfare states today.
Annika Lindberg, Assistant Professor in International Relations at the School of Global Studies, University of Gothenburg. Her research focuses on European borders and the development of deportation policy in Sweden and Denmark.
Martin Joormann, PhD in Sociology of Law and Senior Lecturer at the Department of Sociology and Work Science, University of Gothenburg. His research focuses on migrants’ experiences in relation to class, gender, and race, as well as their access to legal and social rights within the welfare state.
Erling Björgvinsson, design researcher at HDK-Valand, University of Gothenburg. His research focuses on the spatial and material aspects of migration and how policy shapes urban environments and conditions for inclusion and exclusion.
Moderator will be announced shortly.
More seminar will be added in the fall.
In the 2026 election year, issues of migration and integration are high on the political agenda. At the same time, public debate is marked by strong polarisation. But what does research say?
Throughout the year, the Centre on Global Migration (CGM)nat the University of Gothenburg organizes a seminar series in which researchers and practitioners offer different perspectives on one of the most debated topics of our time. Participants will gain insight into current research findings and the lessons that can be drawn from practices within contested areas of Swedish migration policy. The aim is to create a meeting place where academic knowledge, professional experience, and societal perspectives can come together.
The seminar series includes a range of formats—lectures, panel discussions, and seminars—and is aimed at the general public, students, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.
By creating a space for dialogue between research, practice, and public debate, the seminar series seeks to contribute to a knowledge-based conversation on migration and integration in Sweden during the 2026 election year.