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The Indian migration to Sweden began in the twentieth century with students, labour migrants, and asylum seekers settling in the country and children being adopted from India by Swedish parents. In the beginning of the twenty-first century the Indian population in Sweden has increased considerably as an effect of family reunification, natural increase, and an intensified immigration of students and skilled laborers in response to changing immigration policies and internationalization processes of higher education. This case study provides an overview of the migration and the demographic and socio-economic profile of the Indian population in Sweden. As the study illustrates, Indians in contemporary Sweden have diverse migrations histories and constitute a more heterogeneous group of people with different economic, social and cultural backgrounds. While media discourses and perceptions of India have often privilege religion, the Indians in Sweden have used religion and culture as key elements for organizing collective activities and creating representation and visibility in society. In general the Indians have succeeded fairly well in their economic, social and cultural integration into Swedish society, while their political participation has been more restricted.
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