Botkyrka: From Multiculturalism to Interculturalism

Abstract

After more than 50 years of immigration flows from different parts of the world, Botkyrka has reached a new stage in its evolution as an intercultural city. This presentation will address the steps Botkyrka has taken to develop an intercultural approach as a central aspect of the strategic focus for the municipality. It will also explain context and challenges for Botkyrka as the most ethnically diverse municipality in Sweden. We will accomplish this goal by explaining the long-term planning strategy for an intercultural Botkyrka as an organization and a territory. Within the administration we are introducing a paradigm shift that may be more difficult in the Swedish context. The goal is to go from integration through the use of multicultural policies to embrace an approach that is explicitly intercultural.