Abstract

During the previous century Sweden has gone through many changes in cultural, educational, tutorial, and moral aspects. One can also see a shift in attitudes toward as well as more vivid interest in the religious matters. One can say that the country is going through profound social changes. They are a result of an ever widening openness toward cultural and moral trends in present day Europe as well as other countries around the World, in particular the United States. Under the influences of new trends Sweden has gone from a backward country in the beginning of the past century to a place of an in every respect highly developed civilisation. The characteristics of a post-modern society are clearly visible in Sweden. One such characteristic is a mix of different nationalities. Poles and people of Polish descent represent one group among many nationalities and ethnic groups in Sweden. On the one hand, their presence in the Swedish community is marked by vivid and active participation. On the other hand, it requires a lot of effort and self-denial in order to tackle everyday circumstances and to face up to the challenges posed by a life in a foreign country. Different cultures come in contact with each other in constellations: Polish culture – Swedish culture, Polish culture – cultures of other immigrants. The above article is an attempt to describe the social changes that have occurred in Sweden. It also tries to depict mutual permeation of Poles and Swedes, the influence of Poles and the Polish culture on the current changes and how these processes influence the Polish community in diaspora.