Journal Articles

From welfare nationalism to welfare chauvinism: Economic rhetoric, the welfare state and changing asylum policies in Finland

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The article analyses the role and effects of economic cost and welfare state arguments in
Finnish immigration politics and policies. It argues for a need to distinguish between welfare
nationalist, welfare chauvinist and welfare exclusionist discourses. Through an examination of the immigration programmes of the political parties and parliamentary debates and policy documents mapping the changes in asylum policy in 2009–2011, the article shows that welfare nationalism strongly characterises the way asylum and non-Western migration is treated in Finnish politics. Welfare chauvinism is typical for right-wing populist argumentation, but is also used by individual politicians from other parties and by policy makers. Examples of welfare exclusionism were found in party programmes but not in the policy process. Moreover, it is argued that struggles over welfare benefits cannot be understood without an analysis of the cultural definitions of national belonging.

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Detail Information

Series Title

Critical Social Policy

Call Number

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Publisher

Thousand Oaks, CA : Sage Publications., 2016

Collation

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Language

English

ISBN/ISSN

02610183

Classification

NONE

Content Type

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Media Type

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Carrier Type

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Edition

Volume 36, Issue 3, August 2016; pp. 352–370

Subject(s)

Political parties
Finland
Welfare chauvinism
asylum policies
welfare nationalism

Specific Detail Info

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Statement of Responsibility

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