By Enrique Tessieri
If one reads the anti-immigration rhetoric of the far-right wing of the Perussuomalaiset (PS) party led by MP Jussi Halla-aho, you will eventually find the racism and the meaning behind their spiteful discourse. Almost everything they claim when it comes to immigrants and refugees boils down to one matter: Stop Muslims and non-Europeans from coming to Finland and Europe.
For good reason Halla-aho and his cronies in the PS will not tell you their definition of multiculturalism or another favorite pet term, “uncontrolled immigration.” Uncovering what these terms really mean for them would not only expose their racism and extremism but their political pipe dream.
How would it sound if a PS MP claimed that he or she is against Muslims and Africans moving to Finland? It would be pretty bold handing journalists a wonderful story but leave the person who made such a claim vulnerable to attacks by his or her political enemies.
If we, however, rephrased the term so that nobody would know what we really mean we’d have greater success. By stating that “We are against multiculturalism” or “Multiculturalism sucks ass” as Halla-aho has written on Facebook, we drive home our message.
It would be highly revealing if a reporter asked Halla-aho and his cronies their definition of multiculturalism. They would most likely state vaguely that it has something to do with a failed immigration policy, or specifically one that permits Muslims, Africans and non-Europeans from moving to this country.
Those in the academic world and policy makers understand that multiculturalism is a social policy used in Canada, Australia and Britain to integrate immigrants.