Sweden in Focus

In this week's episode we have an interview with an American tech worker who has launched an initiative urging the government to reconsider its plans to tighten citizenship requirements. Our panelists also discuss why Swedish politicians in Brussels have fought tooth and nail to retain the right for 15-year-old Swedes to drive extremely slowly in car-like contraptions on Swedish roads.And why are the far-right Sweden Democrats floating the idea of a future partnership with the once all-powerful Social Democrats.Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Swedish citizenship ‘A trust breaker’: Foreign tech workers campaign against Swedish citizenship lawOPINION: Swedish media must get better at covering immigrant perspectivesWant to make Sweden more attractive, Johan Forssell? Listen to those already hereUnderstanding SwedesWhy do Swedish teenagers drive small and excruciatingly slow cars?Politics Why are the Sweden Democrats making overtures to the Social Democrats?Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: Get Membership+ Read more about Membership+ in our help centre.Already have Membership+ but not receiving all the episodes? Go to the podcast tab on your account page to activate your subscription. 

In this week's episode we have an interview with an American tech worker who has launched an initiative urging the government to reconsider its plans to tighten citizenship requirements. Our panelists also discuss why Swedish politicians in Brussels have fought tooth and nail to retain the right for 15-year-old Swedes to drive extremely slowly in car-like contraptions on Swedish roads.And why are the far-right Sweden Democrats floating the idea of a future partnership with the once all-powerful Social Democrats.For Membership+ subscribers we talk about why an official watchdog has blasted the Migration Agency and the government over citizenship queues.Finally we look at a few of the gentlest swear words in the Swedish language if you want to express displeasure in the nicest possible way. Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Richard Orange and James Savage. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Swedish citizenship ‘A trust breaker’: Foreign tech workers campaign against Swedish citizenship lawOPINION: Swedish media must get better at covering immigrant perspectivesWant to make Sweden more attractive, Johan Forssell? Listen to those already hereUnderstanding SwedesWhy do Swedish teenagers drive small and excruciatingly slow cars?Politics Why are the Sweden Democrats making overtures to the Social Democrats?Migration Agency Swedish Migration Agency and government slammed over ‘unreasonably’ long citizenship queuesIs it worth submitting a request to conclude to the Swedish Migration Agency?Learning SwedishSeventeen! How to NOT swear in Swedish (while feeling like you are)

This week’s episode of Sweden in Focus Extra features an interview with Lars Trägårdh, the historian tasked with heading up plans for a Swedish cultural canon. “Everybody needs to understand this country to survive, to be successful and possibly even happy. And so you need a roadmap and a compass to manoeuvre in society. It doesn’t mean that you have to like every bit, but you do have to understand how it works,” Trägårdh tells The Local’s Nordic editor Richard Orange in a wide-ranging conversation. In the podcast he also talks abouthis ambivalence towards what it means to be Swedishcriticism he has received from representatives for Sweden’s national minoritieshis reaction to concerns that this is a nationalist project dreamed up by the Sweden Democratshow he thinks the canon could be used in schools and citizenship tests....and lots more besides.

In this week's episode our panelists discuss two stories affecting work permit holders after parliament voted through a new law targeting former asylum seekers for expulsion from Sweden and Northvolt filed for bankruptcy.We also ask if Sweden should be doing more to involve immigrants in the construction of a cultural canon that could be used for citizenship tests.For Membership+ subscribers we find out what Americans are telling us about why they’re moving to Sweden and finally we delve into why a proposed new surveillance law has prompted messaging services WhatsApp and Signal to consider leaving Sweden.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and James Savage. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Immigration'We didn't do anything wrong': Foreign workers blindsided by Sweden's 'spårbyte' repealSwedish Migration Agency warns of fast-tracked abolition of 'spårbyte' without transitional rulesSweden to abolish residency permit 'track changes' from April 1stNorthvoltWhat will happen to work permit holders at Northvolt?KEY FACTS: What we know so far about the Northvolt bankruptcyPolitics & CultureWhat books and art can we expect to be in Sweden's future cultural canon?Is the ‘arm’s length’ principle for the arts in Sweden at risk of amputation?Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: Get Membership+ Read more about Membership+ in our help centre.Already have Membership+ but not receiving all the episodes? Go to the podcast tab on your account page to activate your subscription. 

In this week's episode our panelists discuss two stories affecting work permit holders after parliament voted through a new law targeting former asylum seekers for expulsion from Sweden and Northvolt filed for bankruptcy.We also ask if Sweden should be doing more to involve immigrants in the construction of a cultural canon that could be used for citizenship tests.For Membership+ subscribers we find out what Americans are telling us about why they’re moving to Sweden and finally we delve into why a proposed new surveillance law has prompted messaging services WhatsApp and Signal to consider leaving Sweden.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and James Savage. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Immigration'We didn't do anything wrong': Foreign workers blindsided by Sweden's 'spårbyte' repealSwedish Migration Agency warns of fast-tracked abolition of 'spårbyte' without transitional rulesSweden to abolish residency permit 'track changes' from April 1stNorthvoltWhat will happen to work permit holders at Northvolt?KEY FACTS: What we know so far about the Northvolt bankruptcyPolitics & CultureWhat books and art can we expect to be in Sweden's future cultural canon?Is the ‘arm’s length’ principle for the arts in Sweden at risk of amputation?TechWhatsApp to pull out of Sweden if 'back door' surveillance law passes

This week’s episode is part of The Local’s My Swedish Career series and features an interview with Saba Wallace, a human rights consultant from Pakistan who is based in Lund in southern Sweden. Having grown up a member of Pakistan's Christian minority, Saba Wallace says she was faced with a choice over how to approach the world. "I have always been mindful of the fact that I can do it two ways. I can either think that I don't belong anywhere, or I can take it more as an advantage: that I belong everywhere." In her conversation with The Local’s Becky Waterton, she also offers advice for anyone hoping to make a career in human rights and international development."I think first try and find your niche, what you're good at, because human rights is so broad," she says. "What is it that speaks to you? Because at the end of the day, human rights is all about passion. And there are things that you are more passionate about.As a specialist on freedom of religion and belief she discussed the culture clashes that can arise for highly religious families in secular Sweden.Also, what does she like most about Lund after previously living in some of the world’s busiest cities? And what has it been like as a woman of colour leading teams of older white men? 

In this week's episode we discuss: Northvolt’s bankruptcy, the criminal investigation into Sweden’s former national security adviser Henrik Landerholm, the latest on the defence situation for Sweden in relation to Russia and the United States, and why some commentators think Sweden’s needs its own nuclear deterrent.For Membership+ subscribers we look at what readers are telling us about what it’s like becoming a Swedish citizen, and finally we shine a light on the work being carried out by a taskforce on talent attraction and why the government must do more to include the kind of people it’s hoping to appeal to.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists James Savage and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:NorthvoltKEY FACTS: What we know so far about the Northvolt bankruptcySweden's troubled Northvolt files for bankruptcy'Too early to say' if Sweden will give foreign Northvolt staff special helpUkraine'We are shocked': Americans in Sweden rally in support of UkrainePoliticsSweden's former national security adviser charged in classified documents scandalThe LocalWhy The Local launched Membership+ (and why you should join if you can)Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: Get Membership+ Read more about Membership+ in our help centre.Already have Membership+ but not receiving all the episodes? Go to the podcast tab on your account page to activate your subscription. 

In this week's episode we discuss: Northvolt’s bankruptcy, the criminal investigation into Sweden’s former national security adviser Henrik Landerholm, the latest on the defence situation for Sweden in relation to Russia and the United States, and why some commentators think Sweden’s needs its own nuclear deterrent.For Membership+ subscribers we look at what readers are telling us about what it’s like becoming a Swedish citizen, and finally we shine a light on the work being carried out by a taskforce on talent attraction and why the government must do more to include the kind of people it’s hoping to appeal to.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists James Savage and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:NorthvoltKEY FACTS: What we know so far about the Northvolt bankruptcySweden's troubled Northvolt files for bankruptcy'Too early to say' if Sweden will give foreign Northvolt staff special helpPoliticsSweden's former national security adviser charged in classified documents scandalUkraine'We are shocked': Americans in Sweden rally in support of UkraineThe LocalWhy The Local launched Membership+ (and why you should join if you can)ImmigrationSwedish migration minister in multiculturalism row with Sweden Democrat leaderWant to make Sweden more attractive, Johan Forssell? Listen to those already here

This week's episode of Sweden in Focus Extra for Membership+ subscribers features an interview with Katie Dodd Syk, an American in Sweden and co-founder of Smartphone Free Childhood Sverige.