Cultural effects of immigration

Cultural differences may create some distressing situations for immigrants. Cul- ture, as Huntington ( , -4) defines it, is as “a people’s language, religious beliefs, social and political values, assumptions as to what is right and wrong, appropriate and inappropriate, and to the objective institutions and behavioural patterns that reflect these subjective elements”. Sometimes immigrants may change their cultures in a new society, yet they cannot change their skin colour or ethnicity. They get shocked by a new culture, one quite unknown to them before. Cultural misunderstandings sometimes distort the interpretation of the original issue, generating intercultural conflict. Cultural differences are the fo- cus of a crucial debate which still has not explained that historically and today immigrant-receiving societies suffer from excessive recognition of minorities’ collective cultural rights (Couton ).

Rovaniemi offers many cultural elements that are useful for both natives and immigrants; however, immigrants many times do not understand the new language, manners, norms, different-looking people or the new atmosphere in their host country. Cultural differences may create a communication gap. Shaking hands between a male and a female is not permitted in some Muslim culture, yet it is a common sign of politeness in Finnish culture. This may creating feelings of guilt in a Finn who has become aware that the custom is not acceptable in another culture.

Nevertheless, many refugees cannot forget the intensely negative experi- ences that they had to face in the past and that may have altered their normal personality. Any odd situation in a new environment affects them more severely where it stems from racism, because no one has control over which race he or she belongs to. Culture shock is a sensitive issue all over the world. It is difficult for a person to survive in an environment where he or she occasionally faces culture shock, since everybody values his or her own culture. Creating mutual respect for all cultures is essential in a civil society; coping with a new society and culture is not an easy task; its is a lengthy process. In this situation, citizens in the host country may play a key role, since immigrants are vulnerable with regard to many issues. Initially, members of the host society can help by provid- ing information and facts and highlighting the main features of their cultures to the immigrants, discussing in the process cultural differences and similarities.

social effects of immigration in the host country

There is a growing pre-occupation with the possible dangers to social cohe- sion represented by growing immigration flows and ethnic diversity (Cheong et al. ). Many people in Rovaniemi and Finland at large believe that such a danger exists. Many Finns in Rovaniemi also find that if received in a positive way, immigrants may contribute to Finnish society and that the host society can learn something from them; others see the issue in negative terms and worry about the negative impacts on Finnish society of receiving immigrants.

It is generally agreed that social ties play a beneficial role in the mainte- nance of psychological well-being (Kawachi and Berkman ) among some groups of immigrants; in contrast, modern Finns are far more private when it comes to family life. However, family ties are important to promoting mental health: people with many good friends and family around are likely to live longer than isolated or lonely people (Mann ). Through interaction with different groups of immigrants, Finns in Rovaniemi get to know the social life of immigrants and immigrants can learn about the Finnish community.

Even after getting Finnish nationality and living in the country for a period of time, some immigrants do not feel that they are a part of Finnish society, because their acceptance in Finnish society is still limited; they suffer a strong sense of rejection by the general public. They then try to build their own society within Finnish society to provide unity. Yet, in Rovaniemi, due to disagree- ments among immigrants and a tendency among them to move to the southern part of the country for better job opportunities, this has resulted in the forma- tion of a number of mini communities. Immigrants’ social unity, which was strong in their native country, has broken down.

Some immigrants have noted that there are opportunities to study Finn- ish in Rovaniemi but that there are limited opportunities to practice the language, because Finns do not talk much – even with other Finns. Getting a chance to talk to native speakers would improve immigrants’ language skills – especially pronunciation - which are important in social life to cope with the core society. Sometimes immigrants in Rovaniemi have had a negative impact on life in the community by being involved in crime and corruption. This is an increasing trend in the case of sexual offences and also in working life. Some women from different countries such as Thailand, Estonia, and Jamaica come to Finland and begin engaging in prostitution, which has a negative Some immigrants have noted that there are opportunities to study Finn- ish in Rovaniemi but that there are limited opportunities to practice the language, because Finns do not talk much – even with other Finns. Getting a chance to talk to native speakers would improve immigrants’ language skills – especially pronunciation - which are important in social life to cope with the core society. Sometimes immigrants in Rovaniemi have had a negative impact on life in the community by being involved in crime and corruption. This is an increasing trend in the case of sexual offences and also in working life. Some women from different countries such as Thailand, Estonia, and Jamaica come to Finland and begin engaging in prostitution, which has a negative

In another development, immigrants from different countries come here and start a business, but make a deal with their workers and do not pay regular taxes to the Finnish government. Some refugees draw social and employment benefits from the Finnish Social Insurance Institution, yet work off the books without paying taxes. This practice is profitable for both entrepreneurs and workers, yet it is a violation of Finnish law and is condemned by Finnish entrepreneurs.

It is widely expected that this situation can be overcome by people showing respect for each other’s cultures, leading to a peaceful society. Otherwise life will

be somewhat difficult for future generations, for children learn from the environment around them. If it is corrupt then they cannot learn anything good about the society they live in; this is a common concern throughout the world.

political effects on immigration

Immigrants discriminated against, immigrants decried, immigrants rejected, immigrants treated as scapegoats - all these are unfortunately commonplace occurrences (Salama ). Finland is not immune to these phenomena. Some political groups in Finland have endorsed the above attitudes, while others de- plore them. Migration and mobility are increasingly integral to the trajectory of European political economies. Migration policy, which is formulated exclu- sively by the governmental authorities of the destination countries, is interested in receiving skilled migrants (Bruff ). According to the DESA country report ( ), Nordic countries have reformed their economic and migration Immigrants discriminated against, immigrants decried, immigrants rejected, immigrants treated as scapegoats - all these are unfortunately commonplace occurrences (Salama ). Finland is not immune to these phenomena. Some political groups in Finland have endorsed the above attitudes, while others de- plore them. Migration and mobility are increasingly integral to the trajectory of European political economies. Migration policy, which is formulated exclu- sively by the governmental authorities of the destination countries, is interested in receiving skilled migrants (Bruff ). According to the DESA country report ( ), Nordic countries have reformed their economic and migration

It is very difficult to describe racism; it is not frequently acknowledged but very real in practice. Sometimes it is clearly visible; sometimes it is practiced subtly. In Finland there are differences between the Finns Party in Parliament and Finns in general. Members of the right-wing party think pessimistically that immigrants are a burden to the host society, but ordinary Finns think optimistically that every nation needs support from others. The Finns Party does not want immigrants to be able to get jobs in Finland when Finns are jobless and the employment crisis is worsening by the day. The attitudes of the Finns Party towards immigrants are expressed directly in the Finnish media. Many Finns support the Finns Party on the issue, yet many others oppose the party’s views.

In , when Finland started to receive refugees and asylum-seekers, there were many direct reactions towards immigrants. The situation later improved and Finns at large were more accepting of the situation for a few years. Nega- tive reactions against immigrants emerged again after the receiving of refugees became a regular practice of the government; it was not welcomed by Finns Party and the recent general election is an example of this reaction. The party is now the largest opposition party in Parliament. Thus it is clear that some Finns still strongly oppose receiving refugees. Nevertheless, the industrial world will need increasing numbers of immigrants in the medium and in the long run, and not just those who are most skilled. In many countries, the ratio of active to inactive persons is falling and this trend is likely to become more pronounced in the future (Salama ).

In the near future, Finland will also need a considerable number of immigrants – experts and ordinary labour alike – to address the impending labour shortage. Finland is a country with little corruption and a model country when it comes to obeying the law. Accordingly, everybody should obey the Integra- tion Act and the Anti-discrimination Act.

Immigration politics play an important role in Finland nowadays. In Rovaniemi the host community needs more information on immigrants as Immigration politics play an important role in Finland nowadays. In Rovaniemi the host community needs more information on immigrants as

As an EU member state, Finland adopted its model for developing immigration from EU migration policy, although certain domestic actors bypass the process of interest aggregation by mobilising in international venues. Most of the national ministries concerned with migration do not attend international negotiations (Guiraudon ). According to Finland and its neighbours, it is important to encourage and to promote public interest in global development issues. It is also important to take the initiative to promote mutual knowledge and the wisdom of favouring a positive relationship between subjects of different cultures. Development ideas and messages should be changed according to the current situation. The political positions of the Finns Party sometimes ap- pear in the newspaper as well as other media and can generate much anger and negative sentiment among the public. Sniderman et al. ( , 4) found political conservatism to be correlated with opposition to policies to assist blacks and with support for negative images of blacks as “lazy and irresponsible”. However, in Finland, the attitudes of supporters of the Finns Party and ordinary Finns directly affect the attitudes of host people towards immigrants.

Cultural effects of immigration