Segregation is not a new phenomenon. Differences in income, class, religion and culture. For many years so many people have chosen to live and work within their own safe bubble. But, to stay in what is comfortable for the moment has often lead to disagreements in the long run. Prejudices and generalizations about “the others” used to blindly fend for our own community.

The most of us live in it every day, even here in my home country of Sweden. We follow the patterns of our parents and friends. We see the segregation, nonetheless, we are still taken by surprise when it gives birth to its worst child: Racism.

The shock has lifted in Sweden, even though the tension is still around. The general election was carried out in September 2014 and the far-right party: the Sweden Democrats (Sverigedemokraterna), SD, got 13 percent of the votes, 7 percent more than in the previous election.

Demonstrations against racism were being arranged in bigger cities in Sweden and the catch-phrases were echoing throughout the streets. That a party with roots in white supremacy and neo-Nazism [1,2,3] became the third largest party slipped no one's attention. Some tabloids had front pages all in black and in social media the mobilization against racism was more present than ever.

The new Prime minister, Stefan Löfven, and many with him have since declared the watchword ”we are 87 percent”, against the 13 percent who voted for SD, although Löfven and his Social democratic party only got 31 percent.

Sweden has, like many other countries, been struck by high unemployment and growing class inequalities[4] as its main problems. When times are tough and the 87 percent are making themselves out as the establishment, what is the alternative? SD gives their thanks.

Protest against racism is never wrong. There are few human views that are as destructive as when one person is looking down on another because of the colour of their skin, the cultural attributes or the religion. But, in the battle against racism, the 87 percent have an Achilles’ heel. SD often seems like the only party which is talking about the failure of integration, even though the SD-solution is about making a big STOP sign at the border[5]

Sweden is one of the top countries in the world when it comes to receiving refugees [6] , more countries should follow on that point, but after the charitable welcome it seems as if the state wants to escape parts of its responsibility. Those who have fled from war, starvation or persecution become scapegoats in a segregated country [7] with a system that doesn't work as good as it should.

If you don't believe in statistics, all you have to do is take your car to the suburbs around Stockholm, or why not to Malmö. Among the grey facades of the concrete buildings the foreign names are in an overwhelming majority compared to wealthier residential areas. This makes me think: maybe the 87 percent should contemplate what they actually do to improve the integration?

They should not only turn their criticism against SD, but also against their own parties that have run the country for decades. What have they really accomplished when it comes to integration? According to the yearly statistics the class inequalities are growing considerably.

As you know, segregation is a normality in the western world today, even though most people understand that we have to do something about it.

It has become something of a given that children with traditionally non Swedish names are given inferior education[8] , grow up in meagre circumstances[9,10] and have a harder time finding a well-paid job when they grow up.

There is no sensible argument for the parties that blame the the decline of the society on those who own the least and who have it the hardest making their voices heard. But such parties will always have a playing ground, as long as the establishment keeps failing in action with giving everyone the same possibilities.

However, we all know the fact. When integration is accomplished, when there is no us and them, today's scapegoat will become the neighbour and if you are lucky a close friend.

[1] www.expressen.se/nyheter/dokument/har-ar-sds-morka-bakgrund-i-nazism/

[2] www.expo.se/2011/sa-ljuger-sd-om-sin-historia_3612.html

[3] www.dn.se/nyheter/politik/sverigedemokraterna-historia-och-ideologi/

[4] www.svd.se/nyheter/inrikes/klyftor-vaxer-snabbast-isverige_8172016.svd

[5] www.sverigedemokraterna.se/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Besparing-invandring-och-integration-141027.pdf

[6] www.europaportalen.se/2014/06/sverige-gav-flest-flyktingar-asyl

[7] www.socialstyrelsen.se/publikationer2010/2010-3-11

[8] www.skolverket.se/skolutveckling/forskning/ledarskap-organisation/strukturella-faktorer/strukturella-orsaker-till-sjunkande-skolresultat-1.189964

[9] www.socialstyrelsen.se/Lists/Artikelkatalog/Attachments/19473/2014-6-22.pdf

[10] www.socialstyrelsen.se/publikationer2013/2013-2-2/Documents/2013-2-2_Tandvardochtandhalsa.pdf