Abstract
Russian-speakers represent the oldest and biggest immigrant group in Finland, with the majority of them having migrated to the country after the collapse of the Soviet Union in early 1990s. This chapter gives an overview of their integration with a focus on social psychological studies. Integration is a multifaceted phenomenon that includes immigrants’ acquisition of new sociocultural skills, forming of new social relationships, and psychological adjustment. When looking at integration from these perspectives, Russian-speaking immigrants have adjusted quite well. They form and cherish ties to both Finnish society and Russian culture, and have a positive outlook on their future in Finland. However, there are challenges too: Russian-speakers often face mistrust and discrimination in the labor market and other spheres of life. The studies reviewed here show that engaging in positive intergroup contact with majority Finns is crucial for the integration of Russian-speakers, as it promotes their adaptation and fuels positive attitudes toward the Finnish majority and other immigrant groups living in the country. In line with recommendations given by minority rights experts and international organizations, we conclude that the integration efforts of this significant and rapidly growing immigrant group should be met with a more efficient and holistic integration program.
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Social Psychological Research Programme on Intergroup Relations in Finland, known as the ESSO group (see https://blogs.helsinki.fi/esso-group/).
List of Publications in the Social Psychological Research Program Reviewed Above:
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Jasinskaja-Lahti, I., Mähönen, T. A., Varjonen, S., Arnold, L., Yijälä, A., & Jurva, K. (2013). Two perspectives on diaspora migrant identities: The case of Ingrian Finns. In E. Tartakovsky (Ed.), Immigration: Policies, challenges and impact (pp. 255–276). New York: Nova Science.
Jasinskaja-Lahti, I., Celikkol, G., Renvik, T. A., Eskelinen, V., Vetik, R., & Sam, D. L. (2018). When psychological contract is violated: Revisiting the rejection-disidentification model of immigrant integration. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 6(2), 484–510.
Jasinskaja-Lahti, I., Renvik, T. A., Van der Noll, J., Eskelinen, V., Rohmann, A., & Verkuyten, M. (2019). Dual citizenship and perceived loyalty of immigrants. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations. https://doi.org/10.1177/1368430219872809.
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Mähönen, T. A., Ihalainen, K., & Jasinskaja-Lahti, I. (2013a). Specifying the contact hypothesis in a minority-minority context: A social identity perspective. Zeitschrift Fur Psychologie – Journal of Psychology, 221(4), 223–231. https://doi.org/10.1027/2151-2604/a000152.
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Mähönen, T. A., Brylka, A., & Jasinskaja-Lahti, I. (2014a). Perceived ethnic superiority and immigrants’ attitudes towards multiculturalism and the national majority. International Journal of Psychology, 49(4), 318–322. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijop.12048.
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Renvik, T. A., Brylka, A., Konttinen, H., Vetik, R., & Jasinskaja-Lahti, I. (2018). Perceived status and national belonging: The case of Russian speakers in Finland and Estonia. International Review of Social Psychology, 31(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.5334/irsp.149.
Renvik, T. A., Manner, J., Vetik, R., Sam, D. L., & Jasinskaja-Lahti, I. (2020). Citizenship and socio-political integration: A person-oriented analysis among Russian-speaking minorities in Estonia, Finland and Norway. Journal of Social and Political Psychology (In Press).
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Varjonen, S., Nortio, E., Mähönen, T. A., & Jasinskaja-Lahti, I. (2018). Negotiations of immigrants’ cultural citizenship in discussions among majority members and immigrants in Finland. Qualitative Psychology, 5(1), 85–98. https://doi.org/10.1037/qup0000074.
Visintin, E. P., Brylka, A., Green, E. G., Mähönen, T. A., & Jasinskaja-Lahti, I. (2016). The dynamics of interminority extended contact: The role of affective and cognitive mediators. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 22(4), 467–478. https://doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000089.
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Yijälä, A., & Jasinskaja-Lahti, I. (2010). Pre-migration acculturation attitudes among potential ethnic migrants from Russia to Finland. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 34(4), 326–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2009.09.002.
Yijälä, A., Lönnqvist, J. E., Jasinskaja-Lahti, I., & Verkasalo, M. (2012). Values as predictors of anticipated socio-cultural adaptation among potential migrants from Russia to Finland. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 22(2), 95–110. https://doi.org/10.1002/casp.1104.
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Renvik, T.A., Jasinskaja-Lahti, I., Varjonen, S. (2020). The Integration of Russian-Speaking Immigrants to Finland: A Social Psychological Perspective. In: Denisenko, M., Strozza, S., Light, M. (eds) Migration from the Newly Independent States. Societies and Political Orders in Transition. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-36075-7_21
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