SVENSK, EUROPEISK, ERITREANSK – ELLER ALLT PÅ EN GÅNG? En kvalitativ studie om hur andra generationens invandrare upplever europeisk och nationell identitet, med fokus på svensk-eritreaner

Abstract

This bachelor’s thesis examines how second-generation Swedish-Eritreans experience and negotiate their national and European identities. Focusing on the complex processes of identity formation the study explores how young individuals with Eritrean backgrounds navigate between their parents’ cultural heritage, the Swedish majority culture, and a broader European context. Using semi-structured interviews with six Swedish-Eritrean youths aged 16–24, combined with thematic analysis, the research highlights the dynamic and multifaceted nature of identity. The findings reveal that participants often feel caught between multiple identities, facing challenges related to belonging and exclusion. While many identify with Swedish society through cultural practices, they frequently encounter social and racial boundaries that question their Swedish identity. Similarly, their relationship with European identity is marked by ambivalence, shaped by both opportunities for transnational mobility and experiences of exclusion. Ties to Eritrea further complicate their sense of belonging, leading to hybrid identities that shift depending on social and cultural contexts. This study contributes to the broader understanding of identity formation among second-generation immigrants in Europe emphasizing the role of race, culture, and transnationalism in shaping experiences of inclusion and exclusion.