Radical Compassion: The Role of Emotions in the Changing Nature of Finnish Anti-racism

• In Event: 4266 - Noncitizen Political Activism

Abstract

This working paper has two major contributions. Firstly, it investigates the changing nature of anti-racism in Finland and in a Europe that is tightening its border control, and secondly, it explores the mobilizing factors of emotions, especially compassion.
Based on on-line and off-line ethnographic data, I explore the sans-papier movement's sit-in, Right to Live, that took place in central Helsinki, on the Railway square from 10.2 to 30.6.2017.2 The sit-in was initiated by Iraqi and Afghan asylum-seekers who had been declined an asylum. From the beginning, the demonstrators had support from Finnish 'volunteers' as they were called – although some would also refer to themselves as 'activists'. This paper focuses on their becoming of activist citizens and the role of emotions in this process. In the case presented, 'felt politics' (emotions of moral outrage and especially of empathy and compassion), were able to mobilize the 'unusual suspects': people who do not identify themselves as activists and are new to demonstrations and unformal civic participation.

Author

• Maija Jokela, University of Tampere