Towards relational, multidirectional dialogues on memory politics in diverse Finnish society

The war in Europe profoundly affects Finland’s population, shaping how people interpret history—especially war memories—and how they position themselves in a diverse society. This project examines the meanings that immigrants from Russia and Ukraine attach to memories of WWII in the context of Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine and the broader “memory wars” between Russia and the West.

We ask how societal integration, dialogue, and belonging can be strengthened in these circumstances. Do newcomers need to “immigrate into history” by adopting dominant Finnish narratives, or does a diversifying society require changes in Finnish memory politics? How can Ukrainian and Russian immigrants build convivial coexistence in Finland? How are images of WWII shifting due to the current conflict, and can dialogic and democratic relationships around historical memory be fostered?

To address these questions, the project brings together academic, activist, and artistic expertise. It includes long‑term fieldwork with small groups of Russian‑speaking and Ukrainian participants, visits to Finnish sites of memory, and facilitated dialogues developed by the Erätauko Foundation. This approach enables us to: 1) develop a new research‑based methodology for dialogue about the past; 2) collect unique material; and 3) explore how immigrants position themselves in relation to their countries of origin and Finnish memory cultures.