Sweden’s Iranian Community and Its Attitude Towards Israel and Jews

Ivan Goncharenko, Elad Ben-Dror

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Approximately four million Iranians live outside their home country today. As a proportion of the local population, Sweden is home to the largest Iranian expatriate community in the world – some 121,000 strong. Its members are diverse in all respects and have achieved remarkable success in their new country. This article examines attitudes held by Swedes of Iranian origin about Israel, as well as the factors that influence these attitudes. Data were gathered by means of a Swedish-language questionnaire distributed to members of the local Iranian community via social networks. Their answers suggest that most of the Iranian diaspora holds a conciliatory attitude towards the Iranian-Israeli conflict and may have the potential to effect a rapprochement between the two countries. However, many members of the community are passive or silent, clearly exposed to the threat of their home country’s regime. Hence, it may not be possible for them to realize their peace-making potential.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)123-152
Number of pages30
JournalThe Journal for Interdisciplinary Middle Eastern Studies
Volume8
Issue number2
StatePublished - 2022

Bibliographical note

Keywords: Iranian diaspora, Israel–Sweden relations, Israel–Iran relations, immigration, Palestinian-Israeli conflict כתב העת הבינתחומי ללימודי המזרח התיכון

IHP Publications

  • ihp
  • Arab-Israeli conflict
  • Attitude (Psychology)
  • Emigration and immigration
  • Immigrants
  • Iran -- Foreign relations -- Israel
  • Israel -- Foreign relations -- Iran
  • Israel -- Foreign relations -- Sweden
  • Sweden -- Foreign relations -- Israel
  • איראן -- יחסי-חוץ -- ישראל
  • הגירה
  • הסכסוך הערבי-ישראלי
  • ישראל -- יחסי-חוץ -- איראן
  • ישראל -- יחסי-חוץ -- שוודיה
  • מהגרים
  • עמדות
  • שוודיה -- יחסי-חוץ -- ישראל

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