Mandated economic self-sufficiency from state and refugee perspectives: refugee integration policy and practice in Sweden and New Zealand

Abstract

Using the case studies of Sweden and New Zealand, this article examines the ways in which self-sufficiency and individual responsibility are embedded in integration policy and enacted in daily practice. New Zealand was at the forefront of international neoliberal reforms in the 1980s. These reforms were entrenched and strengthened in the 1990s, with profound impacts on economic and social policy. Sweden, while internationally known for its protection of social rights, also emphasizes economic self-sufficiency and individual responsibility in its integration policies. In this article, we draw on S. J. Ball’s conceptualization of policies as text, discourse, and enactment to conduct a critical analysis of refugee integration policies in these contexts. After outlining broad patterns in policy and practice, we draw on our respective research with highly skilled refugees (Sweden) and refugee-background young people (New Zealand) to trace the implications of refugee integration policy ‘on the ground’. Thus, we contribute to an emerging literature that examines the ways in which national policy is translated into local integration practices. We conclude by considering the relevance of our analysis beyond our respective national borders.