The concept of ‘integration’ is, in a Nordic context, mainly used to describe how immigrants are supposed to be part of nation states. In so doing, policies of integration are put in place in order to promote the process. This includes welfare state services such as introductory programs in order to teach language and training for work to newly arrived immigrants. Furthermore, adopting democracy, freedom of speech and gender equality as core values, is considered as essential in order to frame the ‘subject’ as “integrated”. A crucial question can be posed: Are these measures sufficient? Lockwood (1992) proposes a distinction between ‘system integration’ – which refers to the relationship between parts and whole, and ‘social integration’ – which means the solidarity between individuals. This paper argues that while Nordic countries have succeeded to make immigrants formal citizens and in so doing constructed the context for system integration, social integration lacks – due to lack of belonging. Belonging is not simply about attaining citizenship but also about developing emotional and social bonds with places that are constructed as sites of identification and membership (Anthias 2006). In this light, ‘being integrated’ should be considered beyond being included as an equal citizen. The Swedish term “folkhemmet” (home of the people) is used to describe a good society as equal to a home characterized by fellowship and solidarity. This might contribute to inclusion by focusing equal worth and what individuals have in common, but it can also contribute to claims for sameness which can even contribute to formation of lack of belonging (Gullestad 2006). The aim in this paper is to critically analyse ‘integration’ in a Nordic universal welfare state context and particularly attempt to understand how gender and gender equality play a role at individual, collective and institutional level in both system and social integration. The analysis is based on former theoretical and empirical research – mainly conducted in a Nordic context. It is derived from a chapter of a book project on gender equality in the Nordic countries, targeting international students.

This is a joint project connected to a book Bråten and Hjertquist are working on: „Gender equality in the Nordic countries“
Beret Bråten is a post doctoral research fellow at Akershus University Hospital, but are also affiliated with Centre for gender studies at the University of Oslo,
Johanna Hjertquist is a university lecturer at Centre for gender studies at the University of Oslo
Özlem Belcim Galip is a Phd in Kurdish studies from the University of Exeter and currently a Marie Curie Research Fellow at School of Anthropology & Museum Ethnography at the University of Oxford. She has also been at guest researcher at the Centre for gender studies at the University of Oslo.

Beret Bråten, beret.braten@stk.uio.no
Özlem Belcim Galip, Ozlem.galip@anthro.ox.ac.uk