“INTEGRATED? JUST LAGOM.” Socio-cultural integration of young EU-expatriates in Gothenburg

Abstract

This thesis examines aspects of social and cultural integration of young EU-expatriates in Gothenburg, Sweden. It focuses on three areas – workplace, language and socialization – that came forward as the most important sites when it comes to the process of integration. Drawn on twelve qualitative interviews, the study has shown the great importance of social relations in young expats’ lives, as well as their variating perceptions when it comes to the usefulness of the Swedish language in a country of high-proficient English speakers. Besides that, the research has demonstrated how an employer and Swedish working culture commonly have a central role in all of the areas of integration into Swedish society. However, the analysis has been done with the notion of highly skilled EU-migrants being perceived as expats, in contrast to immigrants, which includes somewhat different expectations from the society regarding their adaptation to the local culture. The main contribution of the thesis is that the concept of integration is examined from a contemporary perspective of mobile, dynamic and multi-diverse societies within the EU.