Threats and Solutions: Multiculturalism, Religion and Educational Policy in Finland

• In Event: Roundtable Session 100
  In Roundtable Session: International Perspectives on Religion and Education

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to contribute to the field of intercultural education by examining the interplay of multiculturalism, religion and education in Finnish national policy documents. The research question was: How is the interplay between multiculturalism, religion and education portrayed in the Finnish national policy? The data included the national policy documents from 1998-2009. The qualitative analysis proposed five policy concerns with regards to multiculturalism: political radicalisation, ethnic relations, active citizenship, identity formation and human dignity. Religion seemed to be portrayed in different manner in the different areas of concern. In future studies concerning the everyday practice in schools concerning the intertwining of religion, power and nationality especially when examined in terms of different multiculturalisms should be promoted.

Author

• Martin Ubani, University of Helsinki