[To read this in Finnish: https://blogit.kansanuutiset.fi/northern-exposure/vaalivinkkeja-vasemmistoliitolle-nain-viesti-ulkomaalaistaustaisista-ehdokkaista-saadaan-perille]
Some time in April I dropped out of the Oulu local elections where I had intended to run as a Vasemmisto candidate. I privately gave several reasons to the local party but the principal one was that I was expecting a baby with my Finnish partner, and I would be taking a full role in the care duties for the first year of the baby’s life. Happily I can say that our baby has been born, a healthy boy of 2.8 kg, one week early in mid May. I remain convinced that I made the right decision to drop my candidacy, though at the same time the birth of my Finnish-English son gives renewed importance to my desire to see a more peaceful, equitable and diverse world. As such, ahead of the local elections I’d like to make the following observations that may be useful for candidates.
Finland is great, but like any country it can only measure its particular greatness alongside other cultures.
I’ve lived in three countries: the UK, Italy and Finland (now for three years). What I have noticed in each country is how much the local culture really comes into its own when it’s allowed to flourish alongside other cultures. We all love a (Turkish) kebab after watching the football or hockey. Would Fish and Chips or a salmon with summer potatoes be the same? Not really. Why not? Well, I’d venture to say that foreign beers and foods are enjoyed so much by fans watching their national team precisely because at that moment they feel no threat to their national identity. When you are watching international football foreign lager can be the perfect accompaniment to your patriotism as the variety of different cultures on display in the stadium, on the punditry team, in flags hanging in bars, help to accentuate the feeling of healthy national pride. In this light could it not also be argued that migrants to Finland are an essential component in making Finland Finnish? And of course Finns do the same abroad, helping to create a cosmopolitan sense of diversity in cities such as London, Paris, Berlin and New York, while never threatening the very specific identity of those cities. In this light, openness to foreign culture is not at odds with being Finnish. The two go hand in hand. I’m not suggesting Vasemmisto adopt flag-waving as a way to attract voters. But don’t be afraid to use examples like football to point out the benefits that intercultural activities have.
The whole world is looking to Finland, let Vasemmisto’s foreigners tell the public why.
Finland frequently comes top or close to top in annual lists for happiness, wellbeing, education, press freedom, independence of judiciary, and many other fields. Social Democrat and Democratic Socialist parties across the world specifically cite Finland as a model for a better society. We know that some of this hype is exaggerated. Though perhaps no one knows better than a settled foreigner just how good (or not so good) various aspects of Finnish society are. For this reason Vaemmisto should use their foreign candidates well. You’ll find the public will be impressed with how much they know and they may become less fearful of migrants once they hear what they have to say about their adopted country.
Friendship with foreigners has to start in the party
In the US and UK, the Bernie Sanders campaign and the Labour Party under Corbyn developed a system of community building that takes place not just at election time but all of the time. It involves going and talking to all sections of a community and hearing what they have to say, as well as offering help in community campaigning for things like housing and local facilities. I fully believe that Finnish political parties need to learn from this model and reach out to vulnerable communities as a means of demonstrating how community togetherness can help create a better society. On this note, I also strongly believe Vasemmisto needs to improve their outreach to foreigners within their own party and to make them feel included in the local party structure. It is not enough to talk about diversity without developing basic camaraderie to foreign party recruits. So if you have local foreign party members, perhaps even foreign electoral candidates, ask them what you can do to help them, befriend them , bring them into the community.
The election is three weeks away. Vasemmisto needs to use its best human resources to show voters why foreigners help make Finland great.
In Oulu I’ll be voting for the Scottish Steve Williams. Steve is married to a Finn and has been here over ten years. His candidate number is: 198.
Finally, maybe I’ll run in 2025!