A3 Book section, Chapters in research books
The Movement of the Unemployed in Finland (2012)
Luhtakallio, E., & Siisiäinen, M. (2012). The Movement of the Unemployed in Finland. In D. Chabanet, & J. Faniel (Eds.), The Mobilization of the Unemployed in Europe : From Acquiescence to Protest? (pp. 109-130). Palgrave Macmillan. Europe in Transition : The NYU European Studies Series. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137011862_5
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Luhtakallio, Eeva; Siisiäinen, Martti
Parent publication: The Mobilization of the Unemployed in Europe : From Acquiescence to Protest?
Parent publication editors: Chabanet, Didier; Faniel, Jean
ISBN: 978-0-230-61939-5
eISBN: 978-1-137-01186-2
Journal or series: Europe in Transition : The NYU European Studies Series
ISSN: 2946-3637
eISSN: 2946-3645
Publication year: 2012
Pages range: 109-130
Number of pages in the book: 285
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Place of Publication: Houndmills
Publication country: United Kingdom
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137011862_5
Publication open access: Not open
Publication channel open access:
Abstract
Unemployment became a major political issue in Finland in the late 1970s, and has kept this status ever since. The economic depression of the first half of the 1990s, however, hiked up the unemployment rate to figures unforeseen in the country’s history. Unemployment has thereafter been the number one driving force of one victorious presidential campaign (Martti Ahtisaari, 1994), and of one government program (Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen, 1995). In terms of public opinion, polls have reported for more than a decade that the Finns consider unemployment one of their most critical social problems. The issue of unemployment has thus been on the agenda from the times of the depression to the current era, marked by simultaneous economic growth and structural changes in production resulting in closing down of factories and mass redundancies. Deepening polarization in terms of growing differences in income and wealth has gained importance in public debate over the past few years (e.g., Heiskala 2006). However, a massive social movement against unemployment has never become an important transforming force in the Finnish society, despite certain attempts of mobilization during the recession. In this chapter, we examine why this is so, and what are the forms of collective action the unemployed in Finland have taken on.
Keywords: unemployed people; collective action; social movements; welfare state
Free keywords: unemployed; movement; voluntary association
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
VIRTA submission year: 2011
Preliminary JUFO rating: 2
