Tuire Liimatainen
Research FellowMigration Institute of Finland
Finland
tuire.liimatainen@migrationinstitute.fi
The notion of "Sweden-Finnishness" (sverigefinskhet, ruotsinsuomalaisuus) encompasses two interrelated dimensions in present-day Sweden: the mid-20th-century Finnish mass migration to Sweden and Swedish minority politics. The former links Sweden’s Finnish population with the Finnish nation-state and its emigration history, while the latter pertains to the experiences of historical minority communities within the framework of the Swedish nation-state project. Consequently, the notion of Finnishness has experienced a transformative period in Sweden over the past few decades.
Sweden has always attracted Finns, owing to the close cultural ties and geographical proximity, as well as the countries' long shared history as part of the same kingdom. The presence of Finns in the capital city of Stockholm can be traced back to the Middle Ages, and the migration of Finnish settlers, known as 'Forest Finns,' to central Scandinavia began in the 16th century. In modern times, however, the most renowned and substantial Finnish community in Sweden comprises those who migrated to the country after the Second World War.
The significant Finnish postwar migration to Sweden constitutes the largest migratory wave in the history of independent Finland. It was fueled by a combination of economic, political and social factors in the postwar decades. As Finland grappled with political tensions, high unemployment rates and housing shortages in the aftermath of the wars, Sweden's booming economy and advanced welfare system presented more promising employment opportunities and an elevated standard of living. Moreover, the Nordic countries' adoption of the principle of free movement in the 1950s eased migration between the two countries.
The first migrants did not identify as Sweden-Finns or actively pursue specific cultural rights, as they saw their stay in Sweden as temporary. However, this changed in the 1980s due to socio-demographic and political shifts. By that time, many Finns had chosen to settle down in Sweden. Furthermore, Sweden’s political shift towards multiculturalism in the preceding decade had supported the rights and agency of ethnic minority communities. In addition, a growing awareness of Finns' long-standing presence in Sweden empowered Sweden-Finnish advocates, enabling them to challenge the classification of Finns as immigrants and assert their linguistic and cultural rights as well as belonging within the Swedish nation-state. Consequently, the 1980s witnessed a surge in ethnopolitical mobilization, marked by school strikes and ethnic campaigning.
Over the next decade, Sweden-Finnish minority claims took on a different significance, following the increasing international emphasis on safeguarding national minorities and their languages in the post-1989 Europe. In 2000, Sweden officially recognized Jews, Roma, the indigenous Sámi, Sweden-Finns and Tornedalians as the nation’s five national minorities, along with their respective languages. A crucial criterion was their historical ties to Sweden before the 19th century, although the Finns’ immigrant background prompted some deliberations during the ratification process.
The new field of minority politics has reshaped the Swedish national identity by transitioning it from a homogenous nation-state narrative to one that embraces multiculturalism throughout its history. For Sweden-Finns, this has incorporated their post-war migration story as just one part of a much broader narrative of Finnish influence and experience in Sweden. Many issues touching upon Sweden-Finns, such as the declining numbers of Finnish speakers, are now prominently viewed through the lens of minority politics, alongside with the debates of the injustices faced by other national minorities as part of the culturally and linguistically homogenizing nation-state project. On the other hand, the minority recognition has provided Sweden-Finns with new frames and tools for action, as well as novel collective symbols, such as the Sweden-Finnish flag and the Sweden-Finnish national day.
Today, it is estimated that over 700,000 people in Sweden have Finnish ancestry spanning three generations, with approximately 80 % being second or third generation Finnish descendants. While the number of the older generations of Finnish migrants is declining, Sweden continues to attract new immigrants from Finland, albeit to a lesser extent than in the past. Despite the prevalence of the new minority narrative of Sweden-Finnishness in decision-making and particularly education, individual experiences remain diverse. As people navigate their ethnic, cultural and linguistic heritage in a shifting political landscape, new perspectives of Finnishness inevitably emerge, with some attaching to their parents' and grandparents' migratory histories and others adhering with topical questions concerning national minorities. This highlights the importance of viewing Finnishness in Sweden as a dynamic and multidimensional phenomenon.