Swedish Defense Forces Advertise in Arabic: Former Left-Wing Green Party Member Outraged

Former Green Party and Citizens’ Association party member and former Waste Ombudsman Josefin Utas has ignited a debate over the recent decision by the Swedish Defense Forces (Försvarsmakten) to advertise in Arabic. In a blog post titled “When the Defense Forces Switch to Arabic, Something Is Amiss,” Utas questions the rationale behind the country’s primary security authority turning to Middle Eastern languages to communicate with the public.

The controversy stems from the Defense Forces paying for advertisements on Alkompis, an Arabic-language online news channel, earlier this year. Utas raises concerns about the appropriateness of this decision, particularly given the Defense Forces’ pivotal role in safeguarding Sweden’s security interests.

Inquiries by Nyheter Idag, a Swedish news outlet, prompted responses from the Defense Forces. The Defense Forces justified their Arabic advertisements as an effort to “increase the legitimacy of the Defense Forces among the general public.” However, Utas challenges whether any language would serve this purpose equally. She questions whether it would be equally unproblematic for the Defense Forces to translate their outward-facing communication into languages such as Russian or Chinese.

As emphasized by Utas, the Defense Forces hold a critical position in ensuring national and international security. In light of the current global climate, where trust in the Swedish defense apparatus is paramount, the decision to adopt foreign languages for communication warrants scrutiny. Utas argues that this approach risks eroding the confidence of the Swedish-speaking populace, who may need help to read, understand, or scrutinize advertisements in foreign languages.

Furthermore, Utas contends that language is more than just a tool for communication; it embodies identity and history, serving as a cornerstone for social cohesion and cultural development. She warns against the fragmentation resulting from the proliferation of various languages and media channels, stressing the importance of a common language in fostering unity and averting future societal conflicts.

The Defense Forces’ decision to advertise in Arabic is not an isolated incident but part of a broader trend where numerous government agencies translate their communications into immigrant languages, particularly Arabic. This practice, Utas argues, contradicts political discourse emphasizing the importance of integration and Swedish language acquisition for immigrants.

The controversy raises the broader question about the future direction of Sweden’s language policy, societal cohesion, and changing demographics. Utas calls for a clear stance reaffirming Swedish as the language of communication for government agencies. She warns against blind adaptation, advocating for policies prioritizing preserving and promoting the Swedish language.

Sweden’s open border policies have caused a massive demographic change that is playing out in their language demands. Now, they are surrendering their language to the new migrant population, who the government wants to join the military when they are not even embracing the language of the country.

These language policy decisions are just one aspect of the broader societal implications of migration. Research indicates that within a generation, Sweden’s third-largest city, Malmö, will have a population in which the majority are of foreign background. Moreover, projections suggest that Sweden will become Europe’s most Muslim-populated country. The population of foreign origin has increased significantly, while those of Swedish origin have decreased. By 2050, it is estimated that twenty percent of the European population will be Muslim due to Western Europe’s pursuit of multiculturalism and mass migration.

These demographic shifts highlight the profound impact of migration on Sweden’s societal makeup and the importance of addressing these changes in language policy and integration efforts.