Structural violence in Finnish democracy : A reflective, multi-sited and feminist ethnography on municipal democracy in Finland
Tiensuu, Meeri (2021)
Tiensuu, Meeri
2021
Master's Programme in Global Society
Yhteiskuntatieteiden tiedekunta - Faculty of Social Sciences
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2021-03-08
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202102152103
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202102152103
Tiivistelmä
This is a reflective, multi-sited and feminist ethnographic study of the structural violence in Finland. The study focuses on immigrants’ perceptions and experiences of municipal politics, decision-making and democracy in Finland. The aim of this study is to reflect the contemporary Finnish municipal democratic processes through the eyes of immigrants, or in the other words, through the eyes of the Other. Supported with the ethnographic data collected from the democracy project called Toimi politiikan näyttämöllä (trans. Act on the stage of politics) in the city of Järvenpää, this thesis argues for a more comprehensive and intersectional approach to immigrants’ social integration in Finland.
This Master’s thesis contributes to feminist discussions in peace and conflict studies. Additionally, this thesis contributes to reflective research approach and puts an emphasis on transparent reflection of researcher’s position. This study aims to critically reflect what makes a citizen and how to perform citizenship in a nation-state driven world where migration is a constantly growing phenomenon. Therefore, the theoretical framework of this thesis focuses on the concepts of citizenship, deliberative democracy and everyday peace. The concepts are mirrored with the ethnographic data that consist of participant observation, interviews, casual discussions and reflections arising from the democracy project, and furthermore form the analysis as well as results of this Master’s thesis.
While the thesis focuses on the experiences of immigrants in Finland, and more specifically in Järvenpää, it also acknowledges the structures of the municipal democracy and decision-making processes in Finland. The results of the thesis indicate that there are practices and processes that maintain structural violence in Finland. The results also suggest that the everyday peace in Finland is multifaceted, however it often ignores the experiences and possibilities of marginal groups. Moreover, the results suggest that working with, and for, marginal groups requires a more inclusive and feminist approach. With these results and future developments in mind, this Master’s thesis contributes to discussion, where belonging, performative citizenship, and participation are interconnected parts of engaging and contributing to the everyday peace in Finland.
This Master’s thesis contributes to feminist discussions in peace and conflict studies. Additionally, this thesis contributes to reflective research approach and puts an emphasis on transparent reflection of researcher’s position. This study aims to critically reflect what makes a citizen and how to perform citizenship in a nation-state driven world where migration is a constantly growing phenomenon. Therefore, the theoretical framework of this thesis focuses on the concepts of citizenship, deliberative democracy and everyday peace. The concepts are mirrored with the ethnographic data that consist of participant observation, interviews, casual discussions and reflections arising from the democracy project, and furthermore form the analysis as well as results of this Master’s thesis.
While the thesis focuses on the experiences of immigrants in Finland, and more specifically in Järvenpää, it also acknowledges the structures of the municipal democracy and decision-making processes in Finland. The results of the thesis indicate that there are practices and processes that maintain structural violence in Finland. The results also suggest that the everyday peace in Finland is multifaceted, however it often ignores the experiences and possibilities of marginal groups. Moreover, the results suggest that working with, and for, marginal groups requires a more inclusive and feminist approach. With these results and future developments in mind, this Master’s thesis contributes to discussion, where belonging, performative citizenship, and participation are interconnected parts of engaging and contributing to the everyday peace in Finland.