Presentation at the Annual Conference of the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES), Movement and Migration in the Middle East: People and Ideas in Flux, 5-7 July, University of Edinburgh, UK.

1. Secularism, Art, Activism and Social Networks
of Syrians in Denmark and Sweden
BY JOSHKA WESSELS (PHD)

2. Objectives
• Journey and arrival experiences
• Establishing new lives in the Öresund
• Communal/transnational attachments
• Cultural networks and expressions in exile
• Community initiatives and organising activism

3. Methodology
• Qualitative research methods, on-line and off-line
• Snowball non-probability sampling technique
• Semi-structured individual interviews (in Arabic)
• Tape recorded and video recordings (transcribed)
• Participant observation of Syrian-led civil society initiatives
both in Denmark and Sweden

4. The Öresund region

5. The Öresund region
• Cross - border integration
• To build an “Öresund identity” was high on the political
agenda
• Core around the Copenhagen – Malmö - Lund hub
• Technology hub with excellent innovation potential, world –
class scientific infrastructure and a good environment for
start-ups

6. Population density

7. Syrians in Sweden & Denmark

8. Observations
• What constitutes being Syrian?
– Longing for a lost and destroyed homeland
– Food, music, dance, social interaction, hospitality
• Role of art, civil society activism
– Healing
– Musical performances/Art exhibitions
– Public events and private gatherings
– Creative industries connections
– Cultural events, social networks

9. The Journey
• Diverse journeys
– Multiple transits
– Traumatic journeys and experiences (prior to journey)
• Interactions with local institutions, volunteers, humanitarian
aid
• The use of social media, facebook, signal, whatsapp and
viber to:
– Keep in touch with family, relatives and friends
– Information on routes, assistance and travel
– To keep up to date with local events concerning Syria

10. First arrivals in 2012 - 2013
• Study Scholarships, professional workshops for young
professionals
• Swedish Institute (SI): Young Leaders Visitors Programme
(YLVP)
• Erasmus programme scholarships for Higher Education
• Danish Institute in Damascus (DID)
• Personal contacts and friends network
• The role of University of Copenhagen and Lund University
• Connecting with previous Arab/Syrian diaspora groups in
Copenhagen and Malmö.

11. Developments in Syria 2014

12. Autumn 2015

13. Autumn 2015

14. Autumn 2015 #OpenBorders

15. Facebook groups and communication
• Refugee Buddy Network
• RefuComm, Refugee.info, www.refucomm.com/
• http://www.refugees-welcome.net/ (Germany)
• Refugees Welcome networks in Greece (Lesbos, Chios)
• Refugees Welcome Malmö/Kontrapunkt
• www.flygtninge-velkommen.dk (Refugees Welcome DK)
• Private chatgroups (FB, whatsapp, viber, signal)

16. December 2015

17. Europe-wide demonstrations for Syria in
2016

18. On-line ppl 2 ppl international solidarity

19. Denmark
• Presence of Syrian artists in Copenhagen, painters,
filmmakers and writers/poets. Danish journalists
• Establishment of the Syrian Cultural Institute in Denmark
2015/2016.
• Invitations to Syrian filmmakers, painters and writers
elsewhere in Europe to present books, films and creative
work in Copenhagen.
• Syrian Artists in exile and grants to Higher Academy of
Arts.
• Nørrebro and Sorte Firkant: Filmscreenings, networks,
tarab nights. English, Arabic and Danish language.
• Demonstrations in solidarity with Syria in Copenhagen.

20. Denmark
#SaveAleppo
#Syria.
#Copenhagen
#Denmark.
#AleppoHolocaust

21. Sweden
• Malmö as hub for Arab communities in Sweden
• Malmö Arab Filmfestival, Syrian Films, Theatre, Hakawati
• Early demonstrations in Malmö, Venster Partiet and
Kontrapunkt
• Refugees Welcome, Svenska Kyrka, local Mosques
• Increasing Syrian investment in shops, restaurants
• Lund university and Malmö cultural networks
• Music concerts, Moriskan in folketspark, Arab Bokmässa
• “Stanna Initiative” for Creative Industry Professionals
• Demonstrations in solidarity with Syria in Malmö

22. Sweden
#SaveAleppo
#Malmö
#AleppoHolocaust
#KhanShaykhun
#Syria

23. Sweden

24. Sweden

25. Sweden-wide solidarity

26. Profile of the activist Syrians in Öresund
• Young professionals (such as YLVP alumni)
• More urban than rural background (Aleppo/Damascus)
• Well-connected and exposed to non-Syrian cultures
• English language capacity often quite good
• Culturally engaged with Syrian music, writers, filmmakers
and artists
• International networks, throughout Europe
• Using social media and digital tools for activism
• Have been active during the early days of the Syrian
Revolution

27. Challenges
• Loneliness, Depression, Survivors guilt (first phase)
• Low attendance activities and misconception,
representation of Syrian refugees
• Split in Pro-Assad and Anti-Assad Syrians (Mistrust)
• Rift in the leftwing parties, both in Denmark and Sweden
(Pro-Regime and Anti-Regime)
• Knowledge of Syria and Syrian revolution with RW
volunteers very low
• Social gap with the non-Syrian Arab activists, usually
engaged in (religiously based) charity work for Syria.
• Uncertain futures and engagement with Swedish
communities

28. May 2017