Power and Society in Finland

Finnish society and its power structure have changed considerably over the past few decades. Finland has become a member of the European Union, Finnish companies have internationalised, the Finnish economy is now thoroughly integrated into the global economy, and Finnish culture has developed towards value pluralism. The research programme examines the impact these changes in Finnish society have on its power structures and on those who exert power in Finland. The use of power in Finland is also shaped by differences in income, work, geography, religion, gender and ethnicity. The research programme focuses on the challenges of the future with the help of insights provided by a study of the historical developments of Finnish power.

Aims

In Finland, the broader policy changes have been largely enacted without extensive public debate. Even though specific studies and evaluations have been conducted on the impact these changes have on the lives of citizens, democracy, distribution of power and administrative protocol, a comprehensive interpretation is still needed. A principal goal of the research programme is to produce this kind of broad-based research on power and its historical changes in Finland. Another key goal is to produce new empirical findings on concrete processes of power, as power is nearly always exercised in concrete ways. In addition to scientific research on power, the programme encourages high-profile multidisciplinary research as well as comparative perspectives on power. It also strengthens national and international networking and cooperation among researchers. Special attention will be directed at the exchange of information and reporting on research results. The research programme has an ambition to actively participate in the public debate on power in Finland.

Themes

1 International system, power in Finland and Finnish power

A large percentage of the decisions regarding Finnish welfare policies and employment practices are made in transnational contexts and constrained by supranational regulations. How do initiatives affecting the lives of Finnish citizens originate, develop and filter to the national level? In what kind of political communities is power produced? What are Finland's possibilities for operating in an increasingly integrated world? Who has the power to control these processes? The research programme does not focus exclusively on political and economic issues, as complex power relations need also to be studied in such areas as human rights, culture, justice and morality systems, which are equally important as interfaces between international politics and power.

2 Power in the state and state power

Consensus politics, which emphasises the Nordic welfare state and the ideals of cooperation and consensus, is considered central to the Finnish power structure. The research programme examines how internationalisation and integration have shaped this policy through power structures and mechanisms within the state. How have international agreements and EU legislation affected the power structures and mechanisms in Finland? What changes are apparent in power relations between different public institutions? How have elite structures changed? How has the significance of expertise become emphasised? Through which mechanisms are the global, European, national and local levels connected and what are the impacts of these connections on power in Finland?

3 Economy and power

Economic globalisation has created a collective image of economic power extending nearly everywhere in today's world. What is clear is that the importance of global economy, integrated markets, new market areas and the international competitiveness has increased. What kind of upheaval has the Finnish economic system experienced due to these macro-level developments? Is the power of economy expanding? How has the operating logic of business economics affected the market as well as public organisations? How is economic knowledge produced and what kind of public and invisible power is operating in economic policy?

4 Citizens and civil society

Citizen participation, voluntary associations and social movements are an integral part of the social and cultural power structure. Depending on the actor in question, they may either maintain and support the prevailing system or criticise it and create alternatives. In Finland, the strong position of different voluntary associations has influenced the way the state functions, including the formation of the welfare state. What kind of role have voluntary organisations and associations occupied in the Finnish power system, and how has their function as service providers and channels of information changed? How is power identified and interpreted from the point of view of citizen participation? Are there elements in the power system which constrain citizen participation? The research programme comprehends the study of both small grassroots protest movements and institutionalised third sector actors.

5 The media and power

One of the greatest changes in the power structure has occurred in the field of information exchange. The restructuring of the Finnish media, its relation to other sectors of the power structure, and media operating principles are crucial areas of this power inquiry. What is the significance of the media economy, changes in ownership structures, consolidation, the formation of chains and convergence in relation to power? Does the media passively reflect power structures or is it actively creating them? In addition to mainstream media, there are also counter media and alternative media. For example, the media geared toward a youth audience is also linked to counterculture and social critique. How does publicity support citizenship, allow for participation and the formation of critical opinions? What does the power of media actually entail?

6 Gender and power

Gender inequality in the Finnish social power structure is still considerable. The research programme examines, in a traditional sense, the differences in the use of public and private power between men and women. But it is equally important to study how power produces gender identities, and how power is gendered in Finland. Central themes include changes in society's prevailing gender order and the gendered impact of the retrenchment of the welfare state. What opportunities for influence does an institutional power structure offer women in Finland, especially with regard to the internationalisation of politics and economy? An empirical study of power networks and the recruitment of elites from a gender perspective is also a relevant part of the research programme.