Swedish ambassador to U.S. visits the university in an effort to promote international cohesion

Link to article: https://umdsbs.wordpress.com/2019/12/05/swedish-ambassador-to-u-s-visits-the-university-in-an-effort-to-promote-international-cohesion/

In a discussion hosted by the University of Maryland’s Office of International Affairs, Swedish Ambassador to the U.S. Karin Olofsdotter spoke to a crowd of students and faculty about the importance of understanding foreign cultures and how it can be a driving force behind change.

As explained by Ambassador Olofsdotter, international issues that countries around the world see today are conflicts that could be solved by international cooperation and communication. Joseph Scholten, the Assistant Director for the Office of International Affairs, saw this visit as a beginning of that dialogue for the students in attendance.

“It is easy enough for us to not understand each other around the world, but if we are in the same room talking to each other, it can really facilitate communication,” Scholten said.

One of the biggest issues that Sweden has seen in recent years, according to Ambassador Olofsdotter, is the large influx of immigrants who seek refuge there. In 2015, around 163,000 asylum seekers entered Sweden, which was at the time equivalent to around 2 percent of the country’s entire population.

This large spike in the population of Sweden resulted in tighter immigration laws that “raised the border” around Sweden. Ambassador Olofsdotter explained that the stricting of immigration laws in the country wasn’t inspired by anti-immigrant ideas, but due to the lack of resources to provide effectively for that amount of refugees.

“It was a tough situation,” said Ambassador Olofsdotter. “It was just too much for a while, we couldn’t provide for these people in a meaningful way.”

Ambassador Olofsdotter believes that other countries, especially countries in the European Union, could have helped mitigate the problems of the refugee crisis by lending a bigger hand. According to the ambassador, through cooperation across borders, refugees could have been better taken care of and provided with better care. Furthermore, an understanding of the resources available in Sweden could have prevented overcrowding.

Not all the issues discussed by Ambassador Olofsdotter were as internationally relevant as the immigration crisis. On a lighter note, the ambassador addressed the controversy surrounding the detention of hip-hop star A$AP Rocky earlier this year.

“It took my whole summer,” joked the ambassador.

Simple issues such as these, Ambassador Olofsdotter believes could have been prevented through international communication and an understanding of domestic policies in foreign countries.

In light of recent student led movements such as the March for Our Lives and Climate Strike protests, Ambassador Olofsdotter is impressed with the younger generation’s active voice in politics.

Jack Singelstad, a junior government and politics and history major, believes that social media has enabled this generation to become so politically vocal.

“The biggest part of that is social media platforms like Twitter that obviously allow anyone to get their point across. Anything can be transported from any corner of the world,” Singelstad said.

In order to tackle the foundational problems, such as poverty, war and climate change, Ambassador Olofsdotter believes, armed with an international understanding and communication, this generation of students can do a lot to effect change in the world.

“I think it is important for young people, and for everyone, when you are making decisions on who to vote for, to know how are things done in other countries,” Ambassador Olofsdotter said. “It’s really important that you make your voice heard for what kind of society you want to have.”