Successful adaptation of immigrants to Finland : can cultural fusion work?

Abstract

Immigration numbers in Finland are growing, more than doubling in the past decade, with immigrants arriving from increasingly diverse regions of the world. An attempt should be made to understand what are the factors that lead immigrants to finding happiness, and to mitigate the apparent rise in assimilation and anti-immigrant attitude in Finland.

Most of the interviewees (n=16; 7 females, 9 males) have embedded themselves in dispersed communities, with connections from the workplace, studies, or common interests (e.g., religion, hobbies) that rarely including their immediate neighbors. Several reported a comfort in their own uniqueness. Some pointed to the kindness of Finns as integral to their successful adaptation. However, mixed in with the positive experiences were barriers as well: limited interaction with locals, their own lack of Finnish language skills, and a perceived limit to the level of acceptance of the cultural differences of newcomers by Finnish society, to the extent that some cultural adaptation expectations of the locals are perceived as unrealistic or even unnecessary.

The data indicates that immigrants may not be consciously choosing their adaptation strategies, and perhaps helping the immigrants focus their attention to this could enable them to affect a more desirable outcome, not only for the immigrant but for society as well. Special effort may be required to help male immigrants find something other than a competitive sports community. Additionally, immigrants who relocate subsequent to having adjusted to Finnish culture may need assistance in re-embedding themselves in a new community.

I join calls for continuous policy re-examination to consider how a goal of cultural fusion could be adopted and disseminated into integration efforts. Learning the local language is useful, but high-level language skills should not be a prerequisite for exposing an immigrant to Finns (and vice versa). Bring the groups together early on, and find ways to use well-adapted immigrants (many are ready and able) to be a resource to new immigrants, to Finns who must adapt to immigrants, and to those responsible for immigrant integration. Lists of direct advice were assembled from the interviews.