UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL JUSTICE TOWARDS IMMIGRANTS : FINNISH PERSPECTIVE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55877/cc.vol19.26Keywords:
justice, immigrants, policies, injustice, social recognitionAbstract
Historical analysis confirms that immigrants are poorly-rated in most societies. Their position in Finland does not seem to be any different compared to other countries, although Finland is ranked globally as the happiest country. Finnish statutory law ensures the legal rights of citizens regardless of their origin; however, immigrants must face a number of challenges caused by a lack of societal recognition from native Finns. The study explains ‘social justice’ from a theoretical point of view, applying the concept of experiences provided by Renault. Additionally, the study determines the key obstacles faced by immigrants in Finland and searches for suitable practical approaches to improve their status in the society. We argue that the historical consequences of the real facts on migration in Finland are that immigrants are struggling to establish their identities, which then leads to a complex phenomenon of understating their social status. We have applied the Renault concept of experiences of injustice to understand immigrants’ social position and its influences on their settlement in Finland. The principles of this research can equally create sense and trust in public and private-public institutions, as well as promote transparency and conscious equitable treatment towards immigrants alongside other minority groups.Downloads
References
Aaltonen, S., & Akola, E. (2012). Lack of trust-the main obstacle for immigrant entrepreneurship [Preliminary results]. Turku School of Economics at the University of Turku.
Act on the Integration of Immigrants and Reception of Asylum Seekers, 493/1999 (1999). Available: https://www.finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/1999/en19990493.pdf
Ahmad, A. (2019). When the name matters: An Experimental Investigation of Ethnic Discrimination in the Finnish Labor Market. Sociological Inquiry, 90(3), 468–496. Available: https://doi.org/10.1111/soin.12276
Ahmad, A. (2020). Do Equal Qualifications Yield Equal Rewards for Immigrants in the Labour Market? Work, Employment and Society, 0,1–18. Available: https://doi.org/10.1177/0950017020919670
Alexander, J. C., & Lara, M. P. (1996). Honneth’s new critical theory of recognition. New Left Review, 220, 126–136. Available: http://ccs.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/Alexander%20Articles/1996_alexlara_recognition.pdf
Anholt, S. (2020). Results. Retrieved from The Good Country. Available: https://www.goodcountry.org/index/results
Anonymous (2020). Helsinki warns of increased Covid-19 cases among Somali community.
Foreigner.FI. Available: https://www.foreigner.fi/articulo/coronavirus/increase-in-covid-19-cases-among-the-somali-community-in-helsinki/20200414160549005298.html
Bontenbal, I., Pekkarinen, A.-G., & Lillie, N. (2019). Finnish Integration Policies as Barriers and Enablers to Migrant Labor market integration. SIRIUS. Available: https://www.jyu.fi/hytk/fi/laitokset/yfi/en/staff/bontenbal-ilona/wp3-finlandnationalreport-1.pdf
Candelo, N., Croson, R. T. A., & Li, S. X. (2017). Identity and social exclusion: an experiment with Hispanic immigrants in the U.S. Experimental Economics, 20, 460–480. Available: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10683-016-9492-1
Center for Global Development (2020). About CDI and Key findings. Retrieved from Center for Global Development. Available: https://www.cgdev.org/cdi#/
Chandler, R. C., & Tsai, Y.-M. (2001). Social factors influencing immigration attitudes: an analysis of data from the General Social Survey. The Social Science Journal, 38(2), 177–88. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0362-3319(01)00106-9
Cost of Living in Finland: Helsinki (2020). InfoFinland.fi. Retrieved 21 July 2020. Available: https://www.infofinland.fi/en/living-in-finland/settling-in-finland/cost-of-living-in-finland
Egharevba, S., & Crentsil, P. (2013). Migrants’ perception of the police: Should it be a cause for concern in Finland? European Journal of Criminology, 10(5), 555–571. Available: https://doi.org/10.1177/1477370812469860
Elo, M. (2015). International migration and Finland: Challenges and opportunities of migrant resources. Liikkeessä Yli Rajojen. Available: https://liikkeessaylirajojen.fi/international-migration-and-finland-challenges-and-opportunities-of-migrantresources/
Ervasti, H. (2002). Unemployment and unemployment policy in Finland. In: J. G. Andersen, J. Clasen, W. van Oorschot, and K. Halvorsen (eds). Europe’s New
State of Welfare. Unemployment, Employment Policies and Citizenship. Bristol: Policy Press, pp. 181–193.
Forsander, A. (2002). Glocalizing Capital and Labour – Old structures, New Challenges. In: A. Forsander (ed.). Immigration and Economy in Globalization Process: The Case of Finland. Sitra Reports Series 20. SITRA. Available: https://media.sitra.fi/2017/02/28142010/raportti20-2.pdf
FRA (2017a). Second EU minorities and discrimination survey. Available: https://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_uploads/fra-2017-eu-midis-ii-main-results_en.pdf
FRA (2017b). Vähemmistöihin kohdistuvaa syrjintää ja vihaa ei ole onnistuttu torjumaan läheskymmenessä vuodessa. Available: https://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_uploads/pr-2017-minority-discrimination-persists-fi_fi.pdf
Fraser, N. (2000). Rethinking Recognition. New Left Review, 3, 107–120. Available: https://newleftreview.org/issues/II3/articles/nancy-fraser-rethinking-recognition
Fraser, N., Honneth, A. (2003). Redistribution or Recognition?: A Political-Philosophical Exchange. New York: Verso.
Freedman, J. (2017). Immigration and insecurity in France. New York: Routledge.
Fund for Peace (2018). 2018 Fragile States Index. Washington DC: Fund for Peace.
Giles, M. W., & Hertz, K. (1994). Racial threat and partisan identification. American
Political Science Review, 88(2), 317–26. Available: https://doi.org/10.2307/2944706
Göksel, G. U. (2014). The theory of recognition and the integration of immigrants. [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. University of Colorado.
Hagendoorn, L. (1993). Ethnic categorization and outgroup exclusion: cultural values and social stereotypes in the construction of ethnic hierarchies. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 16(1), 26–51. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/01419870.1993.9993771
Hansan, K. (2020). A case study of ethnic resource utilization among Bangladeshi immigrant entrepreneurs in Finland. [Unpublished master’s thesis]. University of Eastern Finland. Available: https://epublications.uef.fi/pub/urn_nbn_fi_uef-20200963/urn_nbn_fi_uef-20200963.pdf
Hardimon, M. (1994). Hegel’s Social Philosophy: The Project of Reconciliation. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Hellwig, T., & Sinno, A. (2015). Different groups, different threats: public attitudes towards immigrants. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 43(3), 339–358. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2016.1202749
Honneth, A. (1996). The Struggle for Recognition. The Moral Grammar of Social Conflicts. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Honneth, A. (1997). Recognition and Moral Obligation. Social Research, 64(1), 16–34. Available: https://www.jstor.org/stable/40971157
Honneth, A. (2001). Recognition or Redistribution?: Changing Perspectives on the Moral Order of Society. Theory, Culture & Society, 22(4), 87–118. Available: https://doi.org/10.1177/0263276405054992
Institute for the Languages of Finland (2020). Languages of Finland. Kotus.fi. Available:
https://www.kotus.fi/en/on_language/languages_of_finland
Ivison, D. (2000). Political community and historical injustice. Australasian Journal of Philosophy, 78(3), 360–373. Available: DOI: 10.1080/00048400012349651
Jaakkola, M. (1999). Maahanmuutto ja etniset asenteet: Suomalaisten suhtautuminen maahanmuuttajiin 1987–1999. Työpoliittinen tutkimus 213. Helsinki: Edita.
Jaakkola, M. (2000). Finnish attitudes towards immigrants in 1987–1999. Finnish Yearbook of Population Research, 36, 129–161. Available: https://doi.org/10.23979/fypr.44951
Joronen, T. (2002). Immigration and Economy in the Globalization Process. The case of Finland. In: A. Forsander (ed.). Immigration and Economy in Globalization Process:
The Case of Finland. Sitra Reports Series 20. SITRA. Available: https://media.sitra. fi/2017/02/28142010/raportti20-2.pdf
Kerr, S. R., & Kerr, W. R. (2011). Economic Impacts of Immigration: A Survey. Finnish Economic Papers, 24(1), 1–32. Available: DOI:10.3386/w16736
Koivukangas, O. (2002). The need for multicultural approach in Finland. In: O. Koivukangas (ed.). Entering multiculturalism: Finnish experience abroad. FinnForum VI. Migration Studies C15. Institute of Migration, pp. 24–25.
Legatum Institute (2018). Prosperity Index 2018. London: Legatum Institute. Linton, J. M., Griffin, M., & Shapiro, A.-J. P. (2017). Council On Community Detention of immigrant children. Pediatrics, 139(4), e20170483. Available: DOI:10.1542/peds.2017-0483
Mäkinen, K. (2017). Struggles of citizenship and class: anti-immigration activism in Finland. The sociological review, 65(2), 218–234. Available: https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-954X.12392
Manne, K. (2017). Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Markell, P. (2007). The Potential and the Actual: Mead, Honneth and the “I”. In: Van Den Brink and Owen. Recognition and Power. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 100–135.
Mason, A. (1999). Political Community, Liberal-Nationalism, and the Ethics of Assimilation. Ethics, 109(2), 261–286. Available: DOI: 10.1086/233896
Miller, D. (1998). Desert and Merit. In: Edward Craig (ed.). Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, vol. III. London and New York: Routledge.
Mwai, A., & Ghaffar, N. (2014). The role of learning Finnish language in the integration process among immigrant women. [Unpublished bachelor’s thesis]. Diaconia University of Applied Sciences.
Myrskylä, P., & Pyykkönen, T. (2014). Suomeen Muuttaneiden Naisten Ja Miesten Työmarkkinatilanne, Koulutus Ja Poliittinen Osallistuminen. Tilastokeskus. Available: http://www.stat.fi/tup/julkaisut/tiedostot/julkaisuluettelo/ywrp2_201400_2014_12369_net.pdf
OECD (2017). Finding the way: A discussion of the Finnish migrant integration system. Available: http://www.oecd.org/els/mig/Finding-the-Way-Finland.pdf
Offe, C. (1998). Homogeneity and Constitutional Democracy: Coping with Identity Conflicts through Group Rights. Journal of Political Philosophy, 6(2), 113–141. Available: https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9760.00049
O’Neill, O. (1989). Rights to Compensation. Social Philosophy and Policy, 5(1), 72–87. Available: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0265052500001254
Palvelut kunnissa tavoittavat vain osan maahan muuttaneista asiakkaista (2020). Kotouttaminen.fi. Retrieved 20 August 2020. Available: https://kotouttaminen.fi/-/palvelut-kunnissa-tavoittavat-vain-osan-maahan-muuttaneista-asiakkaista
Pitkänen, P., & Kouki, S. (2010). Meeting foreign cultures: A survey of the attitudes of Finnish authorities towards immigrants and immigration. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 28(1), 103–118. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/13691830120103958
Rawls, J. (1993). Political Liberalism. New York: Columbia University Press.
Renault, E. (2017). Social Suffering: Sociology, Psychology, Politics. Maude Dews (tr.). New York: Rowan and Littlefield.
Renault, E. (2019). The Experience of Injustice: A Theory of Recognition. Richard A. Lynch (tr.). New York: Columbia University Press.
Rokeach, M. (1968). A theory of organization and change in value-attitude systems. Journal of Social Issues, 24(2), 528–37. Available: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4560.1968.tb01466.x
Samek Lodovici, M. (ed.) (2010). Making a Success of Integrating Immigrants into the Labour Market. Oslo, 18–19 November 2010. Instituto per la Ricerca Sociale. Available: https://ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=8219&langId=en
Saukkonen, P. (2017). Immigrants and employment in Helsinki. Kvartti, 1/2017, 44–59.
Save the Children. (2018). The many faces of exclusion. Fairfield, Connecticut: Save the Children.
Schwab, K. (2019). Global Competitiveness Report 2019. Geneva: World Economic Forum.
Seppelin, M. (2010). Finnish integration policy. In synthesis report Making a success of integration immigrants into labour market. Oslo, 18–19 November 2010.
Silmnons, A. J. (1995). Historical Rights and Fair Shares. Law and Philosophy, 14(2), 149–84. Available: DOI:10.1007/BF01001042
Smith, A. O. (2018). Africans in Finland Face highest amount of discrimination in EU. Helsinki Times. Available: https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/15989-africans-in-finland-face-highest-amount-of-discrimination-in-eu.html
Sniderman, P. M., Piazza, T., Tetlock, P. E., and Kendrick, A. (1991). The new racism. American Journal of Political Science, 35(2), 423–47. Available: DOI:10.2307/2111369
Social Exclusion Unit (1998). Bringing Britain Together: A National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal. Available: https://www.worldcat.org/title/bringing-britaintogether-a-national-strategy-for-neighbourhood-renewal/oclc/39899760
Spencer-Rodgers, J., & McGovern, T. (2002). Attitudes toward the culturally different: The role of intercultural communication barriers, affective responses, consensual stereotypes, and perceived threat. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 26(6), 609–31. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0147-1767(02)00038-X
Tievainen, A. (2017). Finland one of most discriminatory countries in EU, shows survey. Helsinki Times. Available: https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/15191-finland-one-of-most-discriminatory-countries-in-eu-showssurvey.html
Tully, J. (1994). Strange Multiplicity. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Ulkomaan kansalaiset (2020). Statistics Finland. Retrieved 20 August 2020. Available:
https://www.tilastokeskus.fi/tup/maahanmuutto/maahanmuuttajat-vaestossa/ulkomaan-kansalaiset.html
UN (2016). Leaving no one behind: the imperative of inclusive development. Available: https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/rwss/2016/executive-summary.pdf
UNICEF (2016). Fairness for Children. Florence: Unicef.
United Nations (2019). UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, 2019. New York: UN.
Valtonen, K. (1998). Resettlement of Middle Eastern Refugees in Finland: The Elusiveness of Integration. Journal of Refugee Studies, 11(1), 38–60. Available: https://doi.org/10.1093/jrs/11.1.38
van de Werfhorst, H. G., & Heath, A. (2019). Selectivity of Migration and the Educational Disadvantages of Second-Generation Immigrants in Ten Host Societies. European Journal of Population, 35, 347–378. Available: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10680-018-9484-2
Vanttinen, P. (2020). HELSINKI – Everyday-racism a problem in Finland. EURActiv. Available: https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/helsinki-everydayracism-a-problem-in-finland/
Varjonen, S., Nortio, E., Mähönen, T. A., & Jasinskaja-Lahti, I. (2018). Negotiations of immigrants’ cultural citizenship in discussions among majority members and immigrants in Finland. Qualitative Psychology, 5(1), 85–98. Available: DOI:10.1037/qup0000074
Waldron, J. (1992). Superseding historical injustice. Ethics,103(1), 4–28. Available: https://www.jstor.org/stable/2381493
World Economic Forum (2018). The Global Risks report 2018. Geneva: WEF.
World Justice Project (2020). Rule of law index. World Justice Project. Available: https://worldjusticeproject.org/rule-of-law-index/
World Top 20 Project (2020). World Best Education Systems. World Top 20 Project. Available: https://worldtop20.org/worldbesteducationsystem
Yeasmin, N., & Koivurova, T. (2019). A factual analysis of sustainable opportunity recognition of immigrant entrepreneurship in Finnish Lapland: Theory and practice. Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Innovation, 15(2), 57–84. Available: https://doi.org/10.7341/20191523
Yeasmin, N., Uusiautti, S., & Määttä, K. (2020). Is non-formal learning a solution to enhance immigrant children’s empowerment in northern Finnish communities? Migration and Development. Available: DOI: 10.1080/21632324.2020.1742993
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2022 Culture Crossroads
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
