“Race” and the upsurge of antagonistic popular movements in Sweden

Across a crisis-stricken Europe battles rage for post-neoliberal hegemony, with“race” and “austerity” as central signifiers. One of the places where thefrontlines are most pregnant is Sweden; long perceived as a role model for itswelfare state, cultural equity and social equality. Sweden is, however, facingsocial conflicts following in the tracks of a deep transformation in terms ofwelfare cuts, racialization and growing social polarization, targeting inparticular a disadvantaged migrant and post-migrant population. On thatbackground, the paper focuses on the upsurge of mutually antagonistic popularmovements – “racist” and “anti-racist”. We use Sweden as an exemplary case ofEurope’s present Polanyian moment, reminiscent of the 1930s. Yet, currentupheavals expound, the authors claim, a different configuration of crisis andracism as well as a dissimilar utopia for the imagineering of nation and community.REMESO Forte Centre of excellenc