Finnish youth cultural research and its relevance to youth policy

Abstract

This article intends to outline major characteristics, theoretical and empirical traditions, and ideologies and discourses related to Finnish youth cultural research. Historically speaking, the cultural socialization of the young Finnish nation after independence was a very special national project: 'young' citizens were socialized in a patronizing and enlightening manner to become true and loyal Finns. Diverse popular and youth cultural phenomena have formed a central pillar in the formulation of Finnishness and the national identity of Finnish youth. Also academic interest in popular cultures arose rather early. In this article, Finnish youth cultural research is described along two orientations, namely socio-politically orientated youth studies and more (post-)structurally orientated cultural studies. It is argued that the distinguishing feature of the Finnish youth research field is its somewhat ambivalent status in the crossroads between these two orientations. The article also analyses the complex role of youth researchers as political actors, and emphasizes that one of the special features of Finnish youth research is its close connection with those active in the field of youth policy.

Johdatus Euroopan unionin politiikkaan

“…1987) ja sen Nuorisotutkimusverkostossa (per. 1999) on toteutettu monia tutkimuksia ja osallistuvia kumppanianalyysejä, joilla on voitu tuoda uusia tulkintoja, hiljaista tietoa ja nuorisokulttuurisia kokemuspintoja nuorisopoliittiseen keskusteluun (Hoikkala ja Suurpää 2005, Paakkunainen 2014. Yksi oppi on ollut siinä, että nuorten aidosta edusta tai äänestä (tai sen puolesta) puhuminen on kyseenalaista -nuorisokulttuurinen analyysi on aina poliittista, kulttuurisesti valikoitua ja sen laadun ratkaisevat tutkimus-tai toimija-asetelmat.…”

Young Turns Twenty: Reflections on the Journal’s Development

“…During the first years at SAGE, Young concentrated its efforts to consolidate the position that had been established under the hard conditions of self-publication. An important move was made with the publication of a series of articles in 2004-2005 that mapped research on youth and youth cultures in different countries and geographic areas: US, Australia and New Zealand, the Philippines, Spain, UK and Finland (Bolin, 2004;Feixa Pampols and Porzio, 2005;Hoikkala and Suurpää, 2005;Lanuza, 2004;Maira and Soep, 2004;Muggleton, 2005;Wyn and Harris, 2004). The submission of articles more than doubled and the volume of the journal was extended by more than 50 per cent and covered more and more subfields of youth studies.…”

Juvenile and drugs

“…In this context, the resources a young person with a drug history uses when linking his or her life and actions to approved cultural ideals are especially interesting. When considering the possibilities of adults to support juveniles with a drug history, the analysis of the dilemmatic nature of identity construction is especially important in a 'peer group oriented culture' (Hoikkala andSuurpää, 2005: Suoninen, 2001) like Finland. From the point of view of preventive drug work, it also is important to get more information about the sense-making of the juveniles themselves, who are the target of helping work (for example, Lähteenmaa, 2006;Sulkunen et al, 2003).…”