Including issues of migration and ethnic diversity in museum exhibitions: A reflection on different approaches used in Sweden

Historically, an important role of museums has been to contribute to national homogenization, but their roles are currently in flux. The study shows that Swedish museums of culture and history have begun the journey of adjusting to a new era that is affected by globalization, migration and requests for recognition of cultural difference. These processes began in the 1970s, and have been related to policy developments in the fields of culture, integration and minorities. In certain respects, the museums are moving in the direction of becoming what Eilean Hooper-Greenhill describes as post-museums, for example, museums have begun to include stories that have previously been ignored and are opening up to collaboration with stakeholders. However, the very exhibitions could be improved if museums, for example, more effectively employed new global and transnational perspectives on migration.