Umeå universitets logga

Author: Anna Fjällborg

Title: Debacle: the Relation Between the State of Sweden and the Kvens 1960-2000.

The purpose if this study is to investigate the relation between the State of Sweden and the minority Kvens in the years 1960- 2000 and to learn who the Kvens are. This include the investigation of what distinguish a National Minority in Sweden. This study uses the theoretical concepts of Nation, Nationalism, Identity and Etnicity as a base and it also includes a brief history of the relation between the Swedish State and the Kvens 1809-1950. The sources for this are Public Prints from the Swedish Government and Newspaper articles, all from the period 1960- 2000. Kvens are a collective name for the minorities Kvens, Tornedalingar and Lantalaiset. Differences and similarities among those Minority groups is something that this study investigate. The name Kvens also includes Kvens in Norway, Finland and Russia. The Kvens share history, langauge, culture and traditions over the borders. 1840- 1950 was a hard time for the Kvens because the Swedish State was using coercive methods to make the Kvens to good Swedish citizens which included speaking only Swedish and live according to Swedish culture and traditions. The nationalism was strong and the State believed in one nation, one language and one etnicity. Generations of Kvens got wounds and scars and was ashamed of who they where and today a majority of them can´t talk there own language Meänkieli. In 1995 the Framework Convention for Protection of National Minorities from the Council of Europe shed a light of how the Swedish State deals with the Kvens and pointed out that it is important that the Kvens gets protection. As a result of the Convention Sweden decided that the Kvens, in terms of Tornedalingar, are a National Minority and Meänkieli is a Minority Language. The Framework Convention led the way to fast changes for the better. When this study is written the State of Sweden has decided to investigates its historical treatment of the Kvens in form of a Truth- and Reconciliation Commission which make the topic of this study both relevant and up to date. The relationship between the State of Sweden and the Kvens has steadily improved since the 1980´s and the Framework Convention has helped in many ways. This study tells us what the Framework Convention includes and which amendments Sweden has done to implement it,which became a reality in the year 2000.