The Danes are often depicted as xenophobic, despite their intrinsically humanistic culture. It’s something I’ve found increasingly interesting during my two years here, but despite a lot of thinking about it, I still feel a long way from being able to understand it. Whenever I feel like I’ve unlocked the mindset, I invariably become thrown by the complexity of it all again.
However, after recently returning to the UK for a week (my longest trip for quite some time) I was shocked to discover so much intolerance and racism; mostly revolving around the current integration “problems” the country is apparently facing. The general attitudes and comments I overheard actually seemed in stark contrast to what I thought I knew about those in “homogeneous” Denmark.
The British media and politicians are in general pretty savvy and PC about such topics (and when they’re not they know what the consequences will be), whereas the respective Danish institutions could probably be described as ‘clumsy’ in their choice of words (and images).
But the underlying moods of the two populations also seem at odds. The Danes I’ve spoken to regarding the issues their country is facing, usually admit to a type of naive confusion together with a good understanding that they have problems that need to be solved. The atmosphere I’ve recently experienced in the UK (both in cities and smaller towns) seems to be the opposite and I’m usually left feeling that people who “should know better” are resorting to closed minds and stubborn regret at the situation.
I realise that this is all hugely stereotyped and open to such factors as language differences, locations, the way one views cultures from afar and a whole host of other things. It’s not meant to be a affirmation of anything, but merely some thoughts resulting from spending time in two culturally quite similar countries at different stages of globalisation. I’m generally quite confused and fascinated by it all and would love to hear other peoples’ thoughts on the matter.
Finally, I’ve just discovered (via here) this excellently written article from 2003 by an American who has lived in Copenhagen since the 1970s. It’s quite long, but discusses what issues he faced as an expatriate, a whole host of perceived contrasts between the cultures of USA and Denmark and eventually touches on the current integration issues towards the end. It’s definitely worth a read.
After three and a half years in Denmark I’ve also often been intrigued by the sort of naive xenophobia I have experienced here. My parents are constantly reminding me of the better, more beneficial aspects of multicultural New Zealand of where I grew up.
But what you say about the uk, also reminds me of how I always found intolerance and racism so much more hard hitting and malicious in the big city or ‘multicultural’ situation. Its almost like the hatred and intolerance is more purposeful and premeditated. Being called names over a inner city fence, hurts a lot more than in a small town, where the neighbors, given some time (to get used to the color of your skin), are more likely invite you over for tea and accept you as one of them.
To me, the Xenophobia that I have experienced in Denmark is often seems wrapped up in a sort of ‘hygge’, a wish to make things cosy and familiar and to exclude unpredictable, strange and foreign objects. I have found myself appreciating this aspect with time, in some instances, for instance the intimacy of one-one-one friendships. However its frustrating on the otherhand especially if you happen to be that foreign object.
I am lucky that the most experiences I have had here, have been meant as harmless. Any kind of intolerance is usually aimed at people because of a lack of understanding and lack of familiarity. However, it always disturbs me to think that this is probably quite different for others, especially from a main immigrant group. The walls are probably much higher to cross and stereotypes harder to squash.
Hi Isabel,
Thanks for your comments. I particularly find it interesting how you perceive “[the] wish to make things cosy and familiar and to exclude unpredictable, strange and foreign objects” might fuel the feeling towards immigration. I think I agree and I’m reaching the same conclusions, but I don’t feel comfortable with the justification somehow, even though it makes logical sense.
I think there are two sides to my thinking now. One is determining the mindset, and another is why explanations like the above make things seem less ‘hard hitting and malicious’ to me. It’s maybe got something to do with protecting a culture that appears successful and well-formed versus open bigotry to something that has already been surpassed in the lifetime of the observer. I think that (probably incorrectly) appeals to the subconscious in some way.
Comparing the situation in the UK and Denmark, I think one thing is the same and one thing is different.
The thing that is the same is that some people you meet are racist idiots, and some are not. Some are loud and opinionated, and some are not. Some will resort to violence, and some will not.
The thing that is different is what is acceptable in the media. Political correctness in the 90s had a huge impact in the UK, but not so much in Denmark.
I don’t read the gutter press, so I’m not referring to that. I’m thinking more in terms of the broadsheets and television. I feel they’re more responsible in the UK.
In Denmark the media does not appear to feel any sense of responsibility for promoting understanding – not even DR, which by my way of thinking ought to be at the forefront.
Well, on a brief trip back to Denmark in August I saw a couple of minority faces on TV there – so perhaps the tide is turning. But it’s been taking its time!
Yes, I totally agree with the comments about the press (and I think it also applies to politicians). I guess my feelings are that the ‘confusions’ of the people of the UK and Denmark are actually pretty similar, it’s just that the UK is better at hiding it in its respectable media. So Denmark comes across with a naive honesty at some level.
As I said, I’m still not sure that it’s a good thing, but it’s a different thing and it affects my way of looking at Denmark.
Yes , I agree the media has a big part in the differences between UK and Denmark. What ever the ‘mindset’ of the two different countries (which I perceive a lot to do with ‘Hygge’ or ‘cosiness’), to me, political correctness in the media is a logical way of promoting tolerance and understanding.
Here, I’m often faced with a situation where I’m told to ‘chill out’ and ‘take it as a joke’ because it (eg. some insensitive comment about someone from another race) wasn’t meant seriously. In otherwords, since I come from a more politically correct country, I’m ‘primed’ to get more disturbed about things.
I am an avid supported of dialog and discussion. However I think people who have this attitude just don’t know what its like to be on the ‘receiving end’ and to be constantly played in a negative light. I suppose this the result of having a relatively homogeneous society, with little disturbance from outside. (And this is something that T.E Kennedy, linked in you first post, comments about).
Just a short comment from an inbred danish: Here it’s often customary that if you feel it is obvious that you and your circle of friends aren’t racists, it’s totally acceptable to jokingly behave racist. Because in our minds it’s an of-course that we aren’t racists. It’s part of that strange danish humour I guess, but I can totally see how that can be very confusing.
I have to remind people that Danes often end up being victims of xenophobia abroad too.
During the recent years our government have tried to reduce the number of students taking a gap year, so they are less encourage to travel abroad risking fauna pollution when they take strange customs back.
I think that people are wrong when they think of xenophobia when we in reality are talking about preserving a unique and superior culture. We are only so few and the world spins so fast.
The best thing that could happen would be if people left our country alone and settled with reading about us. It would reduce crime inside Denmark a lot and people would still be able to learn how to live in a civilized manner.
Alberte runs the quite frankly hilarious http://xenophobia.mono.net/, where he attempts to point out cases when Danes have been persecuted by xenophobes while abroad:
“Miss. Andersen [Danish Supermodel] is belonging to the Danish upper class and has in Denmark special rights regarding Danish laws. Recently we saw a high profile rape-case where a student from one of our two elite schools was on trail. He was acquitted as it is custom..”
Another…
“This case as well as the Italian case against an American student Amanda Knox show that the time where young people can study abroad without being harassed is over.”
Thankfully I never met anyone as utterly bigoted, elitist and misguided as Alberte during my time in Denmark.
I think that you are very harsh against the woman (Alberte). Every single day we have to endure being shot at just because we forgot to shave and maybe looks like a biker (with bike).
Then some of our countrymen take the polite nature out of Denmark trying to live as we do and they get thanked by being harassed and jailed.
I am among the supporters of having Camilla Broe put on the site. As you know she is in the risk of facing a life as political prisoner in Florida – a state where you can get 20 years in jail for just having 10 painkillers without perscription.
Even she could have committed a criminal act, she should be facing court in a civilized country rather than Florida. She will not get justice as the other members in the case have made deals with the procecutions where she got off with a slap on their hands in exchange of a testimony against her.
Denmark took a aid-worker back from Madagaskar just a few years ago, who had abused not fewer than 5 children down there. He was convicted here in Denmark because everybody who have read Herge portrait of African culture knows that the their societies are chaos without a working police force and court system.
We could do this in the Camilla Broe case too.
But please accept that other Danes have different opinions. Having respect for others who are Danish citizens is something we are wellknown for.
The Danes, or at least a significant number of them, seem to believe that Denmark and its culture is the best in the world. As such, all ‘foreign’ things tend to be sneered at and treated as inferior.
The lack of political correctness here is also marked. In Denmark it is still socially acceptable to ‘black up’ for a fancy dress party. Object to this and you’ll be reminded that this is the way Danes are, so either get used to it or ship out.
Danes don’t like criticism, which is odd seeing as Danes criticise the rest of the world quite readily.