Many across the spectrum here long share in a kind of 'nationalism' and 'Nordic pride', though certainly in varying degrees. Of course, for some it's not that large a jump from 'proud sentiments' to a certain level of prejudice against those that don't share ones background, the major differences between the far-right and more mainstream elements perhaps best seen as those regarding the degree and visibility such discrimination is embraced and acted upon.
It's been widely reported that Breivik's actions didn't occur in a vacuum, and it is the broader societal sentiments held by many that are politically mainstream, not members of the xenophobic parties, that indeed Breivik's nightmarish political act sought to begin to mobilize. As Breivik's news photos readily demonstrate, does one need be primarily concerned with those that openly wear swastikas, or those whose clothing is only marked by designer labels?
I have long reflected upon the Holocaust, the reasons behind it. As a very young man, I found myself sometimes pointedly asked why Jews simply hadn't left Nazi Germany (I am Jewish), only years later realizing this was simply a part of 'blaming the victim', something that too many are always eager to do. Later, I asked myself how the German people could have let the nightmare of Nazism occur, and it's only recently I became convinced that I likely have 'seen' the answer.
In all fairness to Swedes and Sweden though, the country has also had a number of municipal corruption scandals make news within the last 18 months. I believe a part of what's ongoing has to do with the same problems as spawned these scandals, problems impacting more than just those not native born, and a further measure of the deep-rooted societal issues scapegoating helps hide.
Notably, most of the 'everyday' people one meets here seem among the most decent one can encounter, and indeed, quite a few are; but, there are others too.
Among those that hold the power to shape events, there are locales where another attitude seems too often evident. One repeatedly hears of the 'insular' nature of power in many Swedish communities, but there is a difference between insularity and an arrogant hostility, a contemptuous disregard even sometimes shown native-born Swedes.
According to professor Olle Lundin of Uppsala University's faculty of law, a change has occurred over the "last twenty or thirty years", one he sees due to "influence from the private sector". Lundin perceives what he terms "entrepreneurial politicians" today dominating many of Sweden's municipalities, politicians he sees with a taste for building "shiny, big things", but frequently a disregard for both their constituents and accountability.
Lundin recently wrote a report upon municipal accountability and controls, a report commissioned by an 'expert group' established by the national government's Finance Department. He says a structural problem exists with "no division of power within the local government", no system of appropriate checks and balances accordingly.
Of course, without effective checks and balances, certain 'temptations' exist, the corruption scandals that have broken providing a glaring testament to this, as well as highlighting a further explanation of Sweden's societal pain.
At the heart of the corruption problems are "people who have become too familiar" with each other, according to Prosecutor Nils-Eric Schultz of Sweden's National Anti-Corruption Unit, with what's perhaps best described as 'cronyism' appearing to have blurred the boundaries of law for many.
"If you are 'well-connected' locally...there might be people then who are prepared to 'bend the rules' to give you favors, and maybe they get favors back. And we know that this happens in municipalities", separately added corruption expert and political scientist Staffan Andersson of Sweden's Linnà © University .
Of course, such relationships in a community not only are illegal, but provide an effective threat to any 'outsiders' that encounter them, especially if such inappropriate 'bias' is further heightened by xenophobia. And, it seems I have personally witnessed how such an environment can become extremely dangerous.
During the last week of July, my own apartment - a rental - was vandalized, a chemical substance that made me ill introduced to it, and I am ill still. I was able to find a person with a chemical background to come by and witness the circumstances, and with this witness statement reported the crime to police; though, as of this writing, I have still not received a complaint number.
Interestingly, I live in the best section of town, a place where burglaries and street crime do not exist, and nothing was stolen.
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