NEWS ANALYSIS: Immigration debate enters new phase

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By Kari Huhta
     
      Occasionally, Finland engages in immigration debate that is of quite good quality. The phenomenon is relatively new, and therefore it is easily unnoticed. For instance, in recent weeks, pieces written on the opinion page of Helsingin Sanomat containing demands that opinions be backed up. There have also been detailed proposals, and inaccurate numerical information has been corrected. No longer is the mere venting of prejudices sufficient.
      The current media debate involves private individuals, officials, experts, politicians, and finally immigrants themselves. It is possible to draw some conclusions from the points of view that have been expressed on how Finland is to develop with respect to immigration.
     
Many problems are to be solved, but not all of them. One thing that is for certain is that in the coming decades, Finland will have, living alongside the native Finnish population, more people who have moved here from other places, with very different backgrounds and habits. For many it is not a problem at all, and others will get used to it.
      However, on both sides there are those for whom no practical arrangements are enough, and who have no intention of adapting to the changed situation. There will continue to be difficulties related to immigration, even if most things were to go well.
     
From the point of view of the letters to the editor pages, things look promising. Many problems linked with immigration are practical. They involve getting work, ways of support, housing, and education. To a large extent they are problems that can be solved.
      Politically, the most difficult problem involves the amount of immigration, and the conditions that are set for it. The dispute over residence permits for two grandmothers indicates that it is a more complicated debate than can be deduced from the demands for tougher conditions. Also, independent of that question Finland will, in the future, have more people of an immigrant background than before.
     
Naturally, the letters to the editor pages of newspapers are not mirrors of Finland as a whole, but neither are Internet chat rooms. It is certainly true that not all who debate immigration on the Internet are racists, but nearly all racists certainly take part in the discussions.
      On the Internet we can find those for whom immigration will be a target of rage and anger in the future as well, and it is on the Internet that they will maintain their visibility.
      In the discussions, racism takes on a more precise character. On top of a bone-headed skin-colour racism, a seemingly more literate hatred of Islam has grown. It derives its power from the violent political Islam that hates the West.
     
Islamic extremist groups do not represent Muslim immigrants any better than violent racists represent Finns, but the existence of both needs to be taken into account. The great majority of immigrants of different backgrounds adapt to Finland, but violent Islam emerges in world politics, and living in Finland offers no automatic immunity against it.
      The most important responsibility in reconciling the great challenges of immigration is ultimately with the politicians. We must also not forget companies which have held to the “national custom” of discriminating against foreign job applicants.
      It would seem that in the bearing of responsibility in Finland, at least the Social Democrats and the National Coalition Party have chosen a two-track policy.
      On the one hand the emphasis is on humanitarian obligations and international openness, and on the other hand, there is pandering toward criticism of immigration, in somewhat reserved tones. The debate affects the political parties, but it should move in the other direction as well.
     
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 27.3.2010


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Immigration experts face racist harassment (16.3.2010)
  Thors: Deliberate deception in immigration debate (22.3.2010)
  Foreign Minister Stubb defends immigration and multiculturalism (19.3.2010)

Links:
  Survey: Finns´ attitudes toward immigration have become more negative (15.3.2010)

KARI HUHTA / Helsingin Sanomat
kari.huhta@hs.fi