Recycling Identity and Culture - Identity (Re)construction and Belonging in the Iraqi Community in the South of Sweden

• Main Author: Al-Bdairi, Ameer Sahib Kadhim
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Malmö universitet, Fakulteten för kultur och samhälle (KS) 2019
• Subjects: Social Sciences; Samhällsvetenskap
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:mau:diva-21430

AbstractThe concept of identity has become a vital part of the lives of immigrants. The aim of this thesis is to gain in-depth knowledge of how individuals of the Iraqi community construct their identity and sense of belonging in Sweden and how they relate to their ‘culture’ of origin. Twelve people with Iraqi background were interviewed; six first-generation and six of people who were born in Sweden, but whose parents were born in Iraq living in the south of Sweden. The concepts of identity; cultural and ethnic identity, integration and sense of belonging, alongside the theory of identity strategies, have been interwoven into the results of this thesis. The findings show that the first-generation of Iraqis have a solid sense of belonging to Iraq. Descendants, in turn, tended to identify themselves as both Iraqi and Swedish with a shared sense of belonging to both countries. Moreover, family, language, religion, social relationships, stage of childhood, and interactions with society are important factors in influencing identity reconstruction and one's sense of belonging.