Föreningsliv och demokrati : Om politiska, demokratiska och integrationsmässiga förutsättningar i en somalisk förening

Sammanfattning: In contemporary Sweden political participation among foreign-born Swedes is viewed as low and it is well known that foreign-born individuals do not use their voting rights to the same extent as the general population. At the same time there are numerous ethnic associations around the country who work with various activities involving political, democratic and integration issues. This study aims to study how four members of a Somali association regard, relate to and work with politics, democracy and integration. The study is based on these four people, but also on their relationship with authorities and other agencies in the community. The conclusion of this study shows in brief that the desire to participate politically is great, but that democracy and politics is accessible to all, depending on the level of language skills and what political knowledge the individual has. The study problematizes the concept of integration, whether it should be seen as an immigrant question that should be conducted by the immigrants or not. The informants have a vision that the democratic and political work they are engaged in in Sweden will be used to establish a democracy in their home country Somalia in the future.