DeepSummary
The podcast episode discusses the rise of gang violence in Sweden, a country typically associated with peace and tolerance. Experts Matilda Wellyn and Diamant Salihu explain how areas of Sweden have become plagued by shootings, bombings, and murders linked to gangs involved in drug trafficking and turf wars. The violence has escalated to the point of involving child soldiers and the use of explosives, shocking for a nation that was previously seen as a model welfare state.
Salihu provides insights into the notorious gangs like the Foxtrot network and their Kurdish leader, describing how they operate across borders and utilize hitmen as young as 19 years old. The experts analyze the factors contributing to the surge in violence, including segregation, lack of integration, and political anxiety around immigration policies. They also discuss the Swedish government's response, which has involved tougher laws, increased policing, and even the deployment of the military.
The episode delves into the impact of the violence on Swedish society, with some Swedes feeling unprepared and challenged in their perception of their country as a harmonious, consensus-oriented nation. The rising popularity of the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats party is also explored, reflecting a shift in public sentiment towards more hardline policies in response to the gang crisis.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Sweden, traditionally seen as a peaceful welfare state, is grappling with a surge in gang violence involving shootings, bombings, and the use of child soldiers.
- Contributing factors to the rise in violence include lack of integration, segregation, and political anxiety around immigration policies.
- The Swedish government has responded with tougher laws, increased policing, and even the deployment of the military.
- The crisis has challenged Sweden's perception of itself as a harmonious, consensus-oriented society, with divisions emerging over how to address the issue.
- The anti-immigration Sweden Democrats party has gained popularity, reflecting a shift in public sentiment towards more hardline policies.
- The violence has affected everyday life, with Swedes reporting hearing explosions and police helicopters in their neighborhoods.
- Experts warn that proposed measures like stop-and-search zones based on clothing could further erode trust between the public and law enforcement.
- The episode explores the broader implications of the gang crisis for Swedish society and its self-identity as a tolerant, stable nation.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “If he meant that we have child soldiers, which we do in Sweden, that are taking hit shots to kill people and to detonate bombs for small money, that's extraordinary, even in comparison with the countries in. I mean, what makes Sweden stand out is this problem with explosions and with very, very young perpetrators that are involved in the deadly shootings, deadly explosions that we have a huge problem with.“ by Diamant Salihu
- “It's been opposed by many people, including the discrimination ombudsman of Sweden and many of the instances where these suggested laws go before they are made into laws. And many social movements say that initiatives like this will do the opposite of what they try to do. They say that if the police get to be more forceful, I suppose, in searching people, it will just erode the trust between the people and the police.“ by Matilda Wellyn
- “We've been too naive. We need to be harsher. There needs to be more police to be. We can't just naively let this crime wash over us. But then other people say, no, we used to be consensus oriented. We used to have a strong people's security system. We used to have strong social services, but that has been dismantled. So some people then say that we are where we are because of how Swedes are. We are too naive. And the other people say we are where we are because we stopped being who we are. We need to go back to who we are. And it's almost like a fight over what Sweden wants to be and how we want to see ourselves.“ by Matilda Wellyn
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Episode Information
The Global Story
BBC World Service
2/26/24
Sweden is struggling to contain the gang wars that are spilling out onto the streets. Innocent people are being caught in the crossfire while child soldiers carry out dangerous shoot-to-kill missions for leaders who live abroad. The Swedish government has even recruited the army to help stop the violence. But is it too late?
We explain how the peaceful nation has turned into a European hotspot for shootings with the leading Swedish journalist in gang crimes, Diamant Salihu, and Matilda Welin from BBC Monitoring.
Today’s episode of The Global Story was made by Emilia Jansson and Neal Razzell. The technical producers were Mike Regaard, Sam Dickinson and Jonny Baker. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.