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01 November 2014

Finland: International comparison: Finnish boys have the most negative attitudes towards immigrants

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The attitudes towards immigrants have clearly become harder after the change of the millennium. According to a wide international comparison, Finnish boys have the most negative attitudes towards immigrants. In Finland the readiness for illegal protest activities has also increased rapidly in the beginning of 21th century, leaving its neighboring Nordic countries and Russia far behind, says Sakari Suutarinen from Jyväskylä University. His evaluation is based on the ICCS 2009 International Report covering civic knowledge, attitudes, and engagement among lower secondary school students in 38 countries. Suutarinen emphasizes that the boys' attitudes don't necessarily lead to illegal protest activities, but the undertone does exist.

The illegal protest activities covered in the study include spray-painting protest slogans on walls, blocking traffic and occupying public buildings. The students who had the most negative attitudes towards immigration were also the most ready to get engaged in these illegal activities. the study does not say whether these activities would be targeted towards immigrants, but Suutarinen emphasizes that decision-makers should be aware of this connection.

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Finland
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Lilli Kojo
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