Variability of values ​​and the concept of a value community

In the summer of 2016, there was a lively debate on "national values", several speakers emphasized the importance of immigrants taking up residence "Swedish values". It was there and in other contexts as well many who questioned this line of thinking, including with reference to the fact that different people have different values ​​and that of society values ​​change over time.

Our view of this is based on the concept of community of values, it wants say a group of people who have sufficiently equal values ​​for that they should be able to work well together, discuss their values and the differences in these, and discuss emerging situations based on their more or less similar values. Such a community of values ​​not only presupposes that the values ​​do not differ too much, but also that the members of the group have an openness for each other's views.

With this approach, it is natural that there are differences in values ​​and that these change over time. When reality and circumstances change, it is important that values may change to suit the new situation, and that society does not get caught up in a dogmatic adherence to values ​​that are no longer applicable. The presence of a community of values ​​and the continuous exchange of opinions in it contributes to the highest degree to such openness and flexibility.

We want to see a situation where the entire population of the country constitutes one community of values ​​with regard to the societal values. Therefore, we reject the wording that "immigrants should take in Swedish values ​​", but instead wants to emphasize that also immigrants are involved in the national community of values. It means that is, that they too are welcomed in, and participate in it continuously the discussion of our societal values.

In addition, it is also natural to see cultural, ethnic and religious groups as more local communities of values, which interacts with the community of values ​​that the whole society constitutes. The relationships between these larger and smaller value communities is an important issue that requires analysis and dialogue.

This approach is further developed in the articles below the heading 'Diversity' ..