By Danya Khan

 ‘Racial profiling should not be a tool that the police use because there is nothing that says that if you have dark skin, you are a criminal or a terrorist’ – Thomas James Thomsen 

Sweden has a world renowned reputation for progressive policies, but is this the reality? It is becoming more common to see racial inequality, especially since the decree of The Tidö Agreement. This agreement enforces stricter migration and border controls, whilst specifically targeting ethnic individuals. 

What is The Tidö Agreement and how has it influenced border control? 

The Tidö Agreement was announced in 2022 by the Swedish Democrats. It was established to conduct political reforms for Sweden’s most pressing societal challenges. Of the six collaborative projects the one I shall focus on is ‘migration and integration’. This venture has resulted in heightened police presence at border checks, these police enforce stricter migration policies, specifically targeting migrants. The scrutinisation of racialised individuals reminds us of 

colonial practices of regulating movement based on race. This is reflected in the Malmö – Copenhagen border. 

Racial profiling in police practices 

There have been multiple cases where people feel racially profiled at the border. Many people feel they are routinely questioned where their white counterparts are not. Thomas James Thomsen has become famous on the streaming platform Tik Tok in accordance with this. His account follows daily crossings of the Malmö – Copenhagen border for work, where he is excessively stopped. When asked why this might be the case he says “It’s because I’m black”. Thomas James Thomsen has calculated that he has been searched 150 times in the last 18 months. He is not alone in this experience. Upon speaking to people of ethnic minority, their testimonies highlight the same feeling of insecurity and discrimination at the border. 

‘It’s not justified when I’m stopped because of the colour of my skin or a not-perfect Swedish accent’ – anonymous 

‘I 100% feel threatened by the police’ – anonymous 

When considering racial discrimination at the border we can turn to Adamson who explains that states seek to protect their own citizens from external “others” . The “othering” of non-white bodies reflects colonial ideologies where groups outside of the West were considered inferior. Adamson’s observation intersects with the coloniality of being, highlighting that systematic racial hierarchies are rooted in colonial practices. By making the border a site of racialised exclusion, the government upholds a hierarchy where “whiteness” is normalised and “others” are seen as outsiders. Even when they hold legal citizenship. 

How does this connect to the Tidö Agreement? 

The Tidö Agreement emphasises an explicit focus on migration control. This institutionalises practices like racial profiling. By legitimising migration control, the Swedish government has reinforced a narrative that migration is problematic. Linking migration to issues like crime creates a “reason” for people to be profiled. Ethnic minorities become suspects regardless of their legal status. 

The ideology behind the agreement can be explained by Nordic history within colonialism. As noticed by some scholars, ‘Nordic countries, including Sweden, were and continue to be complicit in (post)colonial processes in various ways: through national imaginaries and racialization intimately tied to the Nordic welfare state models and notions of gender equality‘. The Tidö agreement policies on migration reflect the idea that ‘racialized violence and the legacies of colonial histories—are not defined as “security issues”’. This reflects the power imbalances in Sweden inherited from colonial histories. 

Human Rights and Ethical Implications 

It is important to consider the significance of the Tidö Agreement on human rights. The law states we are all equal, however racial profiling undermines the principle of equality. To be profiled is a violation of human rights which has been denounced by human rights organizations such as Amnesty ‘The government, together with the Swedish Democrats, has presented a number of political investigations and proposals through the Tidö Agreement that risk violating human rights‘. For example, The Tidö Agreement talks about a residency ban without suspicion of crime. This proposal, according to human rights’ defernders, ‘risks leading to racial discrimination and violating people’s right to freedom of movement‘. This perpetuates unequal justice at the Malmö – Copenhagen border as people may be hesitant to travel in fear of jeopardising their residency. 

Sweden’s policies reflect a rising global trend of racialised governance. Migrants from the Global South are often perceived as a threat to society. Sweden must disassociate from the Eurocentric lens through which it operates. Decolonising security would result in a shift from the perspective that the safety and prosperity of white citizens should be prioritised at the expense of marginalised communities. Decentering this perspective allows for the adoption of more inclusive policies. For example, amplifying the voices and experiences of migrants in policy-making processes.