The Evolution of Sweden’s Migration Policy: From Humanitarianism to Securitisation

Abstract

The European migration crisis has emerged as one of the key challenges for Sweden, a country long known for its liberal stance toward refugees and asylum seekers. The large-scale influx of asylum seekers exposed vulnerabilities in the national reception system, aggravated issues of social integration, and contributed to the growing criminalisation of migrant communities. The study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the transformation of Sweden’s migration policy since 2015, viewed in the context of EU-wide reforms and domestic demands for stronger security measures. The methodological framework draws on systemic and comparative approaches. The empirical foundation is based on Statistics Sweden data on the number of asylum seekers, legislative acts, and analytical reports. Over the past decade, Sweden has shifted the focus of its migration policy, moving from a primarily humanitarian orientation toward refugees and asylum seekers to a pragmatic approach that combines restrictive measures with integration initiatives. Among the tools employed by the Swedish authorities to reduce migration flows are stricter asylum regulations, the expansion of readmission, voluntary and forced return programs, broader grounds and longer durations for entry bans in cases of deportation, and the establishment of infrastructure for reception and return centers. The analysis demonstrates that these reforms have reduced Sweden’s attractiveness to migrants and increased control over migration flows; however, they have not resolved the long-term challenges of social integration and territorial segregation of migrants, which remain highly relevant in the country.