The Rise and Fall of Angered: A Swedish Suburb’s Struggle with Segregation and Crime
Angered, a suburb of Gothenburg, Sweden, was once envisioned as a utopian community, a shining example of modern urban planning. In the 1960s, amidst a housing crisis, the city of Gothenburg secretly acquired vast tracts of farmland and embarked on a rapid construction project, erecting prefabricated apartment buildings intended to house a burgeoning population, potentially reaching 300,000 residents. The new suburb was designed to be car-dependent, with residents commuting to jobs, particularly at the Volvo factory in Torslanda, via the newly constructed Angeredsbron bridge. The ambitious project drew comparisons to Brasilia, the modernistic capital of Brazil, and was hailed as a groundbreaking solution to the housing shortage.
However, the idyllic vision of Angered has not materialized. Over the decades, the suburb has experienced a dramatic demographic shift, becoming home to a large immigrant population with high unemployment rates and relatively low car ownership. In 2022, 84% of residents in Angered’s center had a foreign background, and unemployment in the northeast region, where Angered is located, is more than double the city average. These socioeconomic challenges have been compounded by the emergence of a powerful, organized criminal network, which exerts significant influence over the area. The network, documented in Johanna Bäckström Lerneby’s book "Familjen," contributes to an atmosphere of fear and insecurity, making Angered less attractive to potential residents and businesses.
The consequences of these developments are starkly visible in the urban landscape. Boarded-up shops, vandalized bus shelters, and a general sense of neglect pervade the area. Even government institutions have retreated. The Equality Authority, established in Angered in 2018 with the aim of decentralizing government jobs, relocated to central Gothenburg in 2022, citing security concerns and difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff. The authority’s abandoned signage, still hanging on the building at Angereds torg, serves as a symbolic reminder of the area’s decline.
Local authorities are now grappling with the complex issues facing Angered. Jonas Attenius, chairman of the Gothenburg municipal council, acknowledges the need for a revitalization effort focused on attracting businesses and creating a more vibrant urban environment. He points to successful interventions in other struggling suburbs, such as Tynnered and Biskopsgården, where partnerships with private companies have led to investments in housing and job creation. Attenius aims to replicate this model in Angered, securing similar "handshakes" with major corporations to stimulate economic activity and improve the area’s image.
However, Angered faces unique challenges. Its geographical isolation from the city center makes integration more difficult. Unlike other suburbs that are more seamlessly connected to Gothenburg, Angered requires significant infrastructure improvements to enhance accessibility and connectivity. Furthermore, the entrenched criminal network poses a substantial obstacle to progress. Local police chief Fredrick Boström emphasizes the need for a targeted approach, focusing on disrupting the network’s financial flows rather than simply arresting individuals. He recognizes that addressing the root causes of crime is crucial for long-term improvement.
The political discourse surrounding Angered has long centered on combating segregation. However, despite various initiatives, there is little evidence of significant progress in reducing either ethnic or socioeconomic segregation. Attenius points to policies aimed at preventing the concentration of newly arrived immigrants in vulnerable areas and limiting the proportion of residents relying on social welfare. He believes that sustainable solutions lie in fostering ongoing activities and investments rather than relying on large, isolated projects. He also emphasizes the crucial role of public housing companies in driving positive change. Reflecting on the suburb’s history, Attenius acknowledges the responsibility of social democratic policies in contributing to the concentration of immigrants in Angered and its subsequent decline into a predominantly low-income area. He recognizes the need to address these historical factors in order to effectively tackle the current challenges. The future of Angered hinges on the success of these efforts to break the cycle of segregation, crime, and decline, and to restore the area to its original vision of a thriving community.
