Patriotism or Prejudice?
Blog by Venla N.
In the Finnish culture, Finland’s independency is understandably a topic that evokes a range of emotions from pride to a fear of losing it. There is also a dominant vision of a typical Finn that represents the Finnish mentality and acts as an advocate for the right of having the freedom of being, speech and opinion. Pride is a feeling I recognize as my own when the subject of a won war and gained freedom for our beloved country is brought to table. But when the conversation seems to inevitably turn to the Finnish people and who they are, I feel anything but proud.
Especially after the refugee crisis in 2015 and the failed integration process in Sweden, racism in Finland has skyrocketed. There seems to be a strong opinion about who we should share our country with and who is not welcome. The prejudice against migrants is strong, and there are many negative assumptions against certain people. What concerns me the most, is that the prejudice and assumptions are silently accepted in Finnish society since people don’t even realize that they are something that should be processed and worked on. It is also way too easy to see what triggers Finns the most about migrants – and unfortunately it IS skin deep.
Failures in Finnish Society
If you have any other ethnic traits than the traditional Finnish ones, you will not be seen as a Finn. Not even if you are born and raised in Finland and speak fluent Finnish. People with non-Finnish names, darker skin tone and for example non-Christian outfits and accessories are constantly questioned about their background. And for some reason, this questioning does not end in their nationality but spreads to underestimation of their capabilities and skills. They are assumed not to understand Finnish, offered only low-income jobs and discriminated against in different public places. Many of the victims of racism think that the worst part is that their experiences are belittled and even not believed at all. (Yle 2023.)
Since our neighboring country, Sweden, has faced a lot of difficulties due to a failed integration process of refugees and migrants, Finland is understandably concerned. In Sweden, for example, criminal gang activity and riots have significantly increased since the Swedish Police has lacked the ability to preventively intervene in the forming of criminal gangs and groups. The offences occurred have unfortunately claimed several civilian casualties. (Rigatelli 2021.) Even though this phenomenon is scary, we as society will not prevent it or protect ourselves without protecting others as well. In fact, we shouldn’t even talk about “us” and “them”.
The problem with Finnish society seeking solutions to migration problems is the fact that migrants themselves have started to be seen as the problem. How can we expect migrants to integrate into our society and find a safe space when we are labeling them as a potential threat?
Ideally, all migrants should successfully integrate and feel like home here in Finland, find themselves employment and learn the Finnish language. However, due to the fear of radicalization amongst migrants, many Finns still see most migrants as
failures and even parasites if they don’t immediately succeed in these things. And this attitude is exactly why some of them don’t.
Let’s go back to the patriotism. Patriotism in definition stands for “love for one’s country”. It also reminds us of the wars battled and the independency gained. Patriotism is also a sense of belonging, a need to protect and a part of one’s selfness and identity. (Primoratz 2020.) With pride of one’s country also comes a perception of the people of the country in question: who Finnish people are. A native Finn is still only seen as a white Caucasian who fluently speaks Finnish and is born and raised as a Christian in Finland. This perception therefore leaves out Romani and Sami people as well as Tatars who all are an original minority group in Finland.
Also, those Finnish people who have darker skin, multiple native languages or other than white ethnic traits and cultural connections are not seen as “real” Finns. Finland, in fact, is one of the most racist countries in Europe where many black people have faced racism and discrimination. (Hanhinen 2023.) If this portraits the average mentality of Finns, how can we expect every member of our society to fully contribute to the safety and well-being of our beloved country?
Discrimination, othering, and silencing does not help a migrant or a minority to learn a new language or get hired, especially when these toxic attitudes are spreading into academic world like a plague.
The most dangerous form of racism is indeed structural; it has been studied that for example a non-Finnish name or a non-white skin are factors that can keep a person from getting a job, no matter their academic achievements and/or work experience. This problem tells a dark tale of the present state of the Finnish society- and of the future state as well if nothing is done NOW. (Länsi-Suomi 2020.)
Winning the War- Again
Protecting Finland and its independency cannot be seen as a process of denying the country from any non-white, non-Caucasian person. Patriotism is not – or SHOULD not be – about developing a biased attitude towards every person of different colour or ethnicity “just in case” they turn out to represent the threatening traits of the radicalized migrants in Sweden.
The exact thing to push some people into radicalization and social exclusion is by creating the feeling of not belonging – and that’s exactly why the basis of our attitudes should be encouraging, not bigoted. Even though this bigoted way of taking a stand on migrants in general is still only seen as being a patriotic Finn willing to protect their “own people” (white, of course), it is in fact not a part of the essence of patriotism.
As Santeri Kärki (2023) states in his blog about Finnish politics: “Racism is never patriotism, quite the opposite: it weakens the cohesion of our society and creates inequality”. It is absolutely true that we should do our very best to make the integration process easy, effective and successful since it serves both the already existing residents of Finland and the new citizens-to-be.
The key factor is the cooperation between people and the creation of an environment of equality. That brings people together and helps growing the feeling of belonging. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (2023) emphasizes that “every individual’s equality and an atmosphere of attitudes that encourage immigrants to become members of society are prerequisites for integration”.
Every member of the Finnish society, both officials and regular citizens, are responsible for creating that atmosphere of positive and accepting attitudes. We cannot love our country by hating the people in it; by welcoming and embracing all people willing to participate in our society, we are also welcoming the result of successful integration.
After all, our veterans fought for freedom – and the least we can do to thank them is by freeing
ourselves from the shackles of prejudice. That’s how we truly keep the legacy of won wars and independency alive – for everyone here in Finland today and in the future.
Sources
Hanhinen, H. 2023. Mustat ihmiset kokevat eniten rasismia Saksassa, Itävallassa ja Suomessa| Kotimaa | Yle.
Kärki, S. 2023. Rasismi ei ole isänmaallista (santerikarki.fi).
Primoratz, I. 2020. Patriotism. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
Länsi-Suomi. 2020. Rasismin vaarallisin muoto on rakenteellinen, ja näin se vaikuttaa Suomessa – huono- osaisuus voi kasautua läpi elämän. Rasismin vaarallisin muoto on
rakenteellinen, ja näin se vaikuttaa Suomessa – huono-osaisuus voi kasautua läpi elämän. (ls24.fi)
Rigatelli, S. 2021. Ruotsista tuli murhien ja kranaatti-iskujen keskus, ja näitä virheitä Suomen pitäisi välttää – ruotsalaisekspertti: “Me olimme naiiveja”. Yle.
Työ- ja elinkeinoministeriö. 2023. Maahanmuuttajien kotoutuminen edellyttää yhdenvertaisuutta ja yhteistyötä. Maahanmuuttajien kotoutuminen – Työ- ja elinkeinoministeriön verkkopalvelu (tem.fi).
Yle. 2023. Kokemuksia rasismista. Nyt puhuvat itse rasismia Suomessa
kokeneet – sadat vastasivat Ylen kyselyyn | A-studio | Yle.