From welfare nationalism to welfare chauvinism: Economic rhetoric, the welfare state and changing asylum policies in Finland

Abstract

The article analyses the role and effects of economic cost and welfare state arguments in Finnish immigration politics and policies. It argues for a need to distinguish between welfare nationalist, welfare chauvinist and welfare exclusionist discourses. Through an examination of the immigration programmes of the political parties and parliamentary debates and policy documents mapping the changes in asylum policy in 2009–2011, the article shows that welfare nationalism strongly characterises the way asylum and non-Western migration is treated in Finnish politics. Welfare chauvinism is typical for right-wing populist argumentation, but is also used by individual politicians from other parties and by policy makers. Examples of welfare exclusionism were found in party programmes but not in the policy process. Moreover, it is argued that struggles over welfare benefits cannot be understood without an analysis of the cultural definitions of national belonging.

The meanings of racism: Public discourses about racism in Finnish news media and online discussion forums

“…For example, several elected party members have been found guilty of 'agitation against an ethnic group' -a crime under the Finnish criminal code -for using racist language in their social media comments (Nikunen, 2016). More broadly, the confluence of the global economic crisis and the dramatic increase in asylum seekers in 2015 have encouraged the rhetorical positioning of 'migrants' as a security risk, economic burden and obstacle to socio-cultural cohesion (Keskinen, 2016). However, the intensity of public reaction should not be underplayed; anti-immigration arguments have provoked demands to publicly condemn racism, and emergent anti-racist groups have contested the ways in which racism is constructed in political and media discourse.…”

What Is Left of the Radical Right?

“…This position is generally known as welfare state chauvinism (Andersen & Bjørklund, 1990, p. 212). The core idea is that in order to maintain solidarity within the welfare state, the welfare state should be restricted only to native people, and foreigners should be excluded (De Koster, Achterberg, & van der Waal, 2012;Keskinen, 2016). Many authors observe this kind of policy in the economic agendas of radical right-wing populists (De Koster et al, 2012;Keskinen, 2016;Lefkofridi & Michel, 2017;Mudde, 2007;Norocel, 2016;Schumacher & Van Kersbergen, 2016).…”

“…The core idea is that in order to maintain solidarity within the welfare state, the welfare state should be restricted only to native people, and foreigners should be excluded (De Koster, Achterberg, & van der Waal, 2012;Keskinen, 2016). Many authors observe this kind of policy in the economic agendas of radical right-wing populists (De Koster et al, 2012;Keskinen, 2016;Lefkofridi & Michel, 2017;Mudde, 2007;Norocel, 2016;Schumacher & Van Kersbergen, 2016). Yet if we go beyond welfare state issues and look at a broader array of economic issues, we can see a second way in which nativism may inform a party's economic policies: opposition to trade, which may threaten blue-collar jobs (Van der Waal & de Koster, 2017).…”

Recognising forced migrants in transnational social work

“…Furthermore, in Finland, social work practitioners may take part in processes of “othering” and using the illusion of equality, which can exclude those who do not fit into national ideals (e.g. Keskinen et al , 2012; Keskinen, 2014; Anis, 2008). …”