Economic Integration and Feelings of Belonging - Somali Communities in Finland and in the United States

• In Event: 242 - Section on International Migration Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 20. Migration and Development

Abstract

With over one million people living scattered around the world, Somalis form a significant part of the world’s diaspora population. “Contexts of Diaspora Citizenship” is a four-year (2012-2016) transatlantic research project, which compares the social participation and the social identifications of the Somali communities in two very different societies, United States and Finland. It presents an analysis of the possibilities and obstacles that Somali immigrants face while striving for a full and equal membership in their new home countries.
Preliminary findings suggest that although Somalis in Finland and in the United States face many similar challenges, such as unemployment and discrimination, there seem to be remarkable differences in the opportunities that these two societies offer. Due to the comprehensive welfare model, the economic condition of Somalis is relatively stable in Finland, but their access to the mainstream society is very limited. Despite of new policies aiming at integrating and empowering the immigrant populations, the employment rate and educational attainment of Somalis is still very low. In the United States, in turn, Somalis face more economic challenges, but they also seem to have more opportunities in terms of education, employment and especially entrepreneurship. Preliminary findings also suggest a significant difference in the way Somalis identify with their host countries. American Somalis seem to have a more positive relationship with their current home than the Somalis in Finland.

Authors

• Marko Tapio Kananen, University of Minnesota

• Jussi Kasperi Ronkainen, Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences

• Päivi Harinen, University of Eastern Finland

• Tiina Sotkasiira, University of Eastern Finland

• Ville-Samuli Haverinen, University of Eastern Finland

• Yasemine Inkaya, University of Eastern Finland