Between Multiculturalism and Conservatism in Finland: Experiences of African Immigrants in the Helsinki Region

Abstract

“Finland is for everyone… with their cultures and languages” encouraged, so says the government, as it advocates “equality, non-discrimination, prevention of racism, and the promotion of positive attitudes” towards immigrants. On the other hand, “Finland is for Finns,” so say right-wing Finns (or the conservatives), who are daily growing in numbers in the society. This study investigates the loggerheads between these two stances, using 40 educated black African immigrants, male (N=25) and female (N=15), legally resident in the Helsinki region (comprising of Helsinki, Espoo, and Vantaa), as a case study. The study was conducted in 2013 and in spring 2014. Black Africans in this study are those from sub-Saharan Africa, excluding white and Indian Africans. The major finding indicates that they experience constant racism and xenophobia: socially, culturally and economically, due mainly to their color, and that this is causing serious integration problems for the black community. This has also pushed some to consider relocating to a more friendly country, or to return home altogether. This paper thus argues that this is in serious conflict with the egalitarian and multicultural society that Finland officially professes.