Islamic diffusion in the countries of the Arctic region: the processes of Muslim migration to Scandinavian countries in the context of the transforming Islamic world

Abstract

Abstract The paper is dedicated to the problems related to the change in the social and sociocultural structure of the countries in the Arctic region as a result of Muslim migration to the states of the Arctic region such as Scandinavian countries. Based on the review of Russian and European literature and open information sources, in this paper the authors systematize the perceptions of the migration flow from the Muslim world to Northern Europe. The formation, causes, specifics and transformation of this migration flow are considered within its entire course in chronological order and its division into periods is proposed. Each stage is judged upon and arguments are given for the chosen categorization. In addition, the events occurring in the Islamic world within the mentioned periods are reviewed. These events are systematized, synthesized and synchronized. As a result, the authors are able to reconstruct a reliable chronology of the process of Muslim migration to the Scandinavian countries and divide it into stages. In the course of the research study, the authors conclude that almost all stages of the Muslim migration wave to Northern Europe (excluding the “Initial” and most recent ones) have a systemic period of 20 years. However, some prerequisites are being formed for the present stage to be much shorter in time in comparison to the previous ones. As of 2018, two bastions of North Africa - the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria and the Arab Republic of Egypt - are in a crisis situation by their economic, social and political indicators. This crisis cannot be interpreted as anything but a prewar situation. If the crisis in these countries is similar to the one in 2011-2014 and they are unable to withstand or transform it, the situation with Muslim migration, flows of refuges and the situation in Europe itself can turn out to be unpredictable. In today’s 2019 and in the nearest future five more countries - three Islamic Republics are in the zone of risk: Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, while the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Turkey and in the zone of turbulence. A catastrophe in any of these countries will itself cause an explosive leap in migration, which will spread as waves of people throughout all Eurasian regions. If a chain reaction occurs and a domino effect lasts, it will probably end up in a socio-humanitarian catastrophe of a global scale first in the regions and then on the way where people masses will flow.