The Decline of the Finnish American Left 1925–1945

Abstract

Finnish immigrants have frequently been cited as the most politically radical ethnic group in America during the first three decades of the twentieth century, as indicated by the support they provided to the major left-wing organizations of the time. However, by 1945 this tendency was dissipating. Although political repression and nativist asperity were significant factors in undermining the left, they do not fully account for the downfall of leftist support. This article examines four other major factors: 1) the Bolshevization of the American left; 2) mass emigration to the Soviet Union; 3) the erosion of the ethnic community; and 4) the emergence of the “New American Society”.

Uses of local ethnic television: Finland Calling (1962–2015) and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

“…Historically, Finnish immigrant communities were divided into Church Finns and Red Finns based on their affinity to either Christianity or socialism. While this dualism oversimplifies actual experience (Kaunonen, 2009: 58), Finnish American social life in the early 20th century tended to be organized around the alternative centers of the church or the socialist hall, and Finnish Americans were very active in left-wing radical organizations (Kivisto, 1983: 65–7).…”

Commemorating alternative organizations and marginalized spaces: The case of forgotten Finntowns

“…Many Finns also had a vision for an expanding cooperative form of economic organizing that would become an alternative to capitalism (Martilla, 1919;Nummivuori, 1919). Similarly, radical labor organizations within Finntowns were in direct contrast and a part of the opposition to dominant capitalist organizations and practices (Karni and Ollila, 1977;Kaunonen, 2009;Kivisto, 1983). Currently, no former Finntown space has been fully materially preserved, although some individual buildings within these former spaces have been designated as significant historical sites (Alanen, 2014: 70).…”