Finnish attitudes towards immigrants in 1987-1999

Abstract

The attitudes of Finns towards foreigners were more negative during the time of widespread unemployment in 1993 than before (1987) or afterwards (1998-1999). Interviews with about 1000 person representing the entire population showed that the most educated and those who were personally acquainted with migrants were more positive - in accordance with the contact theory - than the others in their attitudes toward refugees and foreign job seekers and all the ethnic groups mentioned. Those with little education, pensioners, the unemployed, men supporters of the Central Party and those living in rural areas had more negative attitudes and believed - in accordance with the conflict theory - that they would take jobs and social benefits away from the Finns. In 1998 over one-third of the young men living in the rural areas supported the actions of skinheads against immigrants.