Russian Jewish immigration gave Israel the fuel for the Start-Up Nation – and Syrian immigration can do the same for Europe, according to Stockholm’s start-up chief
To some, the scenes of Syrian refugees breaching the walls of Europe portend monumental difficulties, like how to resettle that many people, how to acculturate people who never lived in a democracy, and how to integrate the conservative mores of Islam with those of liberal Europe.
But Olef Zetterberg, Business Region Manager for Stockholm, Sweden – whose job is to develop partnerships and attract companies to his area – sees them more as an asset in the making.
“Those who are shouting to close the border are shortsighted,” said Zetterberg. “By doing so, they are demanding that we keep out talent that can innovate and strengthen our economy and society.”
And the role model for Sweden, and all of Europe, is right here in Israel, said Zetterberg. “Absorbing the Russian Jews did wonders for your country, and I believe that we in Sweden, and in Europe in general, now have the opportunity to bring that kind of immigrant innovation success to our countries.”
Zetterberg was speaking on the sidelines of the Tel Aviv Cities Summit, an annual event where urban planners and government officials gather to discuss how technology can help urban dwellers live better, healthier, and safer lives.
Zetterberg’s is perhaps a bold – or at least unusual – position in an era that has firmly adopted the motto “good fences make for good neighbors.” Zetterberg agrees that absorbing large numbers of Arab, African, and Asian immigrants from developing or politically and economically troubled regions will pose a great challenge, but he believes that Europe really has no other choice.
“I am definitely cognizant of the challenges of absorbing tens or even hundreds of thousands of ‘different’ people in homogeneous societies,” said Zetterberg, who hails from Sweden, traditionally one of the most culturally homogeneous societies in Europe. Sweden has a population of only ten million people, meaning that a community of tens of thousands of immigrants would be noticeable. “Naturally it has to be done intelligently, but there are precedents for success in this kind of action.