1. Päivi Harinen & Veronika Honkasalo with an inspiring support of Antti Kivijärvi and Jatta Herranen CIVIC CULTURE as an Emerging Question in Multiethnic Societies

2. The theme: How the Finnish civil society and its free time structures, institutions (municipal, third sector), communities, patterns submit to the multicultural reality and sociality? The theme: How the Finnish civil society and its free time structures, institutions (municipal, third sector), communities, patterns submit to the multicultural reality and sociality? Free time spaces as important agendas for civic education (especially for the young ones – ”peer socialisation”  the significance of multicultural youth work) Free time spaces as important agendas for civic education (especially for the young ones – ”peer socialisation”  the significance of multicultural youth work) In fields of civil society (”slack” leisure communities, organisations…) the issue of multicultural equality discussed just occasionally (cf. education, working life) In fields of civil society (”slack” leisure communities, organisations…) the issue of multicultural equality discussed just occasionally (cf. education, working life)

3. Participation, equal possibilities to get and become heard in shared activities (also in civil society) = abstract political concepts Participation, equal possibilities to get and become heard in shared activities (also in civil society) = abstract political concepts …Until ”culture” enroaches upon, begins to disturb – civil society = a cultural space of belonging and identification (Stuart Hall)  a need to take Civic Culture along within analyses of civil society (political theory is not enough, ethnicity ”matters”)  a need to take Civic Culture along within analyses of civil society (political theory is not enough, ethnicity ”matters”) Also ”a tension of theories” of civil society should be paid attention to * new (nation)state management (Foucault) or challence of (also cultural) hegemonies (Gramsci)? Also ”a tension of theories” of civil society should be paid attention to * new (nation)state management (Foucault) or challence of (also cultural) hegemonies (Gramsci)?

4. The ideal? Michael Waizer's definition of civil society (1992): Michael Waizer's definition of civil society (1992): It is neither home nor work, but a third kind of place where theorists say that citizens cultivate relationships with a wide range of others, expand their horizons, and nurture a kind of selfhood that is compatible with an open society. Civil society does not, in theory, operate solely according to the competitive individualistic logics of the market, or the particularistic, private logic of the family or ethnic, national, or religious group. Nor does it operate solely according to the bureaucratic logic of the government or corporation." It is neither home nor work, but a third kind of place where theorists say that citizens cultivate relationships with a wide range of others, expand their horizons, and nurture a kind of selfhood that is compatible with an open society. Civil society does not, in theory, operate solely according to the competitive individualistic logics of the market, or the particularistic, private logic of the family or ethnic, national, or religious group. Nor does it operate solely according to the bureaucratic logic of the government or corporation."

5. Some analyse-based notions According to our analysis (The nation-wide project Multicultural Youth, Leisure and Participation in Civic Action): ”Cultural fox-holes” and mutual suspicion maintain distance and prevent participation of the ”late comers” ”Cultural fox-holes” and mutual suspicion maintain distance and prevent participation of the ”late comers” Totally ”out”: ”fresh” young immigrants, those who lack language skills, the most ”different” ones Totally ”out”: ”fresh” young immigrants, those who lack language skills, the most ”different” ones Multicultural civic or leisure activities often project-like (momentary, short-term)  ”vulnerable” (”insist” special time, special resources, special skills – which ”we” never have enough) Multicultural civic or leisure activities often project-like (momentary, short-term)  ”vulnerable” (”insist” special time, special resources, special skills – which ”we” never have enough) Participation possibilities are selected/distinctive - tensions between different sides (organizers, native participants, multicultural participants) – conflicting perceptions about ”the state of art” and about the obstacles to multicultural cooperation (e.g. in the third sector) Participation possibilities are selected/distinctive - tensions between different sides (organizers, native participants, multicultural participants) – conflicting perceptions about ”the state of art” and about the obstacles to multicultural cooperation (e.g. in the third sector)

6. It seems that… The civic culture in Finland = based on the hegemony of Finnishness (as a fibre of the nationalistic history of the Finnish civil society – ”nation-state formation”) The civic culture in Finland = based on the hegemony of Finnishness (as a fibre of the nationalistic history of the Finnish civil society – ”nation-state formation”) Migrant or multicultural ”programmes allowed”, even supported (in terms of integration and ”societal peace”), but still: cultural differences are claimed to ”create challenges” etc. Migrant or multicultural ”programmes allowed”, even supported (in terms of integration and ”societal peace”), but still: cultural differences are claimed to ”create challenges” etc. Equality = difficult to understand in terms of ”positive discrimination” towards those in social margins (  arithmetic or geometric equality?) Equality = difficult to understand in terms of ”positive discrimination” towards those in social margins (  arithmetic or geometric equality?) Difficulties in defining what multicultural cooperation in civic arenas actually would be – what makes an association, leisure community, organised action etc. multicultural? Difficulties in defining what multicultural cooperation in civic arenas actually would be – what makes an association, leisure community, organised action etc. multicultural?

7. Multicultural action: becomes often narrowed to ”immigrant work” (” a sector”) – immigrants as objects of treatment – to integrate them into ”us”, ”the same kinds of actors” – migration = a problem (we are not, our close communities are not) that has to be managed and controlled (in frames of ”cultural knowledge” and mutual teaching)  Multiculturalism maintains prevailing communities Action is toned by a stress for unity and normative consensus – no critical reflection towards ”us” as a homogenic gategory that insists ”assimiliation” To be ”open” into several directions raises: resistance, changes, breaking up the unity, challenging the balance Immigrants own associations are sometimes defined as a hint of incomplete integration

8. SOME QUOTATIONS FROM KIVIJÄRVI’S DATA (Projects of multicultural youth work) ”When the project ended, the whole work just stopped, as a chicken’s flight.” ”When the project ended, the whole work just stopped, as a chicken’s flight.” ”We train young immigrants to become same kinds of actors as we are.” ”We train young immigrants to become same kinds of actors as we are.” ”Immigrant work means a comprehensive adaptation aims, to this society.” ”Immigrant work means a comprehensive adaptation aims, to this society.” ”Multicultural youth work can begin when there are enough immigrants. Otherwise it’s too expensive. It’s a question of economy.” ”Multicultural youth work can begin when there are enough immigrants. Otherwise it’s too expensive. It’s a question of economy.”

9. Observation diary: ”A youth worker is telling about a successful multicultural event: Finnish independence day celebration in youth club, where the national song Maamme was sung, and all, also young immigrants from Afghanistan, wore shirts decorated with Finnish flags. According to the teller, there was a fine, multicultural feeling among the participants. When she was asked, could the same happen at Afghanistan’s independence day, she was surprised and could not answer.” ”A youth worker is telling about a successful multicultural event: Finnish independence day celebration in youth club, where the national song Maamme was sung, and all, also young immigrants from Afghanistan, wore shirts decorated with Finnish flags. According to the teller, there was a fine, multicultural feeling among the participants. When she was asked, could the same happen at Afghanistan’s independence day, she was surprised and could not answer.”

10. Thus – what can we assume about the Civic Culture in Finland?