Election Fever

The Finns are electing a new parliament on Sunday. I've got pretty excited about the elections even if I haven't really been following the political debates in Finland. Actually, I believe it's better for my nerves considering the rise in popularity of the True Finns, the anti-immigration, anti-EU party that has nothing else to propose than negative attitude and nationalist (I'm not sure if the tone is more Soviet or fascist) art programme. I couldn't handle elegantly the stupidity of the opinions of the candidates (nor of the citizens voting). Well, the minor problem of democracy is that we get a parliament that we deserve, nothing more.

I went to vote in Brussels last week (and got to buy some Finnish delicacies, like our Easter dessert mämmi, at the same time). I had prepared myself with a few election surveys even though I was already pretty sure of whom I wanted to vote. The choice of a political party was easy as my principal concern in the world is environment (only in the second position is my professional concern: inequality). Later, I tried to counsel my Mother on the good candidates in her preferred party (in order to minimize the chances of some non-educated ice hockey player's wife...). To my great surprise, she finally voted for 'my' candidate as well. Talking about swing-voters... I guess my Father has been rolling his eyes and voted instead for someone who wants to build a nuclear plant in our backyard.

I couldn't vote in the last parlimentary elections as I was traveling in South America and I also missed European elections and some other elections of smaller importance. In fact, the last time I voted was in 2006 in the presidential elections. But as before, the whole election thing makes me want to get more involved in politics or even to become a politician myself. I think I'd be a good one in theory, but I would hate to give up my principles in order to make compromises and to win in some other issues. I would also be too honest and get too frustrated about the slow changes, stupidity and the way politics work in general. Thus, I should congratulate all those politiciens who do their work sincerely not betraying their own beliefs or moral and actually achieving something for the benefit of the society and the citizens (i.e. someone who isn't there only to vote for higher salaries for the MP's).

I've learnt a great deal about politics lately, not because I'm working in the heart of the European Union but because I've been intensely watching the American tv-series West Wing (what a great series it is!). Yesterday, I actually had a moment when I thought of the character of Martin Sheen being the real president of the USA before the image of Obama popped up from the back of my mind. It's a cruel game sometimes and not much is getting done because the incumbent politicians are constantly thinking of the next elections and pleasing lobbies and their constituencies.

Maybe it is after all more efficient to work behind the scenes, to have the powerful role of giving advices to politicians or reporting on what's actually happening in the world. Provide them with the infomation needed to decide wisely on policies, which they possibly cannot understand fully. I've probably been brainwashed during the 4 years of doctoral education, but I honestly think that research (+ a bit of idealism, a hinch of realism, and great deal of vision) should be the beginning of all policies. I just wish that researchers and academics would connect their work more closely to the current happenings and changes of our societies and make some strong political conclusions based on the empirical evidence they have objectively gathered. To follow this idea, I finished my thesis with a chapter titled 'Dear Member of the Parliament'. Not only 'why' question, not only 'how' or 'what' questions, but also the 'so what' question should be included more forcefully in all research conducted in social and political science!