De Nya Svenskarna is a Sweden-based, globally oriented initiative that connects religion, democracy and peacebuilding in a new way. Starting from the Nordic experience of democratic church elections, we develop and promote the Multi-Religious Election System as a concrete conflict-resolution model. Our work shows how democratic elections inside churches and other faith communities can strengthen youth participation, gender equality, and accountability, and how these internal reforms can support international law, human rights and long-term peace in conflict-affected regions.
We work at the intersection of policy influence, public awareness, and education for refugees and faith communities. From Sweden and the EU, we reach refugees, churches and policymakers online with educational materials, briefs and seminar concepts that explain how church elections and religious democracy can help separate religion from state power while making religious leadership more representative and peace-oriented.
Where many interfaith and refugee organizations focus on dialogue or humanitarian support, De Nya Svenskarna adds a unique focus on democratic governance inside religious communities themselves, offering a clear, transferable reform model that can be adapted from the Nordic context to multi-religious societies worldwide.