Barriers and Motivators to Participation in Integration Programs by Asylum Seekers in Sweden.

Abstract: The phenomenon of asylum seekers seeking refuge in foreign countries has become an intricate global challenge, often raising questions about successful integration and participation within host societies. This paper dwells on the multifaceted relationship between asylum seekers and their active engagement in the integration process. Drawing from interdisciplinary research encompassing psychology, peace and migration studies, the paper offers a comprehensive analysis of the factors that shape asylum seekers' participation and contributions to their host communities. The thesis provides a nuanced understanding of integration, emphasizing its multidimensional nature encompassing economic, social, cultural, and policy level dimensions. It then explores the barriers and facilitators that impact asylum seekers' participation in these dimensions, such as personal experiences, social attitudes, language proficiency, legal frameworks, and access to education and employment opportunities. Moreover, the study examines the role of host society's perception and attitudes in influencing asylum seekers' willingness and ability to integrate. Highlighting the significance of reciprocal interactions, the paper also investigates the ways in which asylum seekers' active engagement contributes to the host society's own integration process. This includes fostering intercultural communication, enriching diversity, and potentially challenging stereotypes and prejudices. The analysis sheds light on potential avenues for policy and practice interventions that can enhance the integration process and maximize the benefits of asylum seekers' participation. The research provides a comprehensive evaluation of the complexities surrounding asylum seekers’ integration and participation. Using a qualitative research framework, the research examined responses from 15 asylum seekers who had first-hand experience of the barriers and motivators to participating in integration programs. The study adopted an interpretivist research perspective guided by inductive reasoning to deduce critical themes from the responses. The researcher used semi-structured interviews that were analyzed using thematic analysis.