“I’m Ukrainian. I Want to Be Heard”: The Role of Refugee Civic Participation in Political Decision-Making – A Study of Pro-active Ukrainian Women under Temporary Protection in Sweden

Sammanfattning

This thesis investigates the civic and political participation of pro-active Ukrainian refugee women residing in Sweden under the European Union’s Temporary Protection Directive (TPD), introduced in response to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. While much of the existing literature on refugee integration has focused on legal, economic, and linguistic dimensions, this study explores the often-overlooked role of civic participation as a pathway to democratic inclusion and political agency. Using a qualitative methodology, the research draws on six semi-structured interviews with pro-active Ukrainian women living in the Stockholm region. Thematic analysis revealed key themes including forms of civic participation, motivations and barriers, perceptions of inclusion and political efficacy, and the gendered nature of refugee participation. The findings highlight how civic participation—in the form of volunteering, advocacy, demonstrations, and community involvement—not only contributes to personal integration and social belonging, but also serves as a means for refugee women to influence policy and participate in democratic processes. Despite facing obstacles such as language barriers, temporary legal status, and emotional strain, the women demonstrated a strong desire to be active members of society and contribute meaningfully to their host country. The study underscores the transformative potential of civic participation for marginalized groups and emphasizes the need for inclusive integration policies that recognize refugees as political actors and community stakeholders. This research contributes to refugee studies, civic participation scholarship, and gendered analyses of displacement by offering new insights into how refugee women mobilize civic agency in a temporary protection context. The findings have implications for both academic inquiry and practical policymaking, particularly in designing integration strategies that promote democratic participation and social inclusion.