Explaining Ethnic Residential Preferences—The Case of Somalis and Russians in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area

Abstract

This paper contributes to the discussion on ethnic segregation processes by examining the ethnic residential preferences of two immigrant groups in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area (HMA): Somalis and Russians. The relatively recent increase in ethnic diversity and the active policies aiming for social and ethnic mixing provide an interesting environment for studying the subject in the HMA. Ethnic residential preferences have traditionally been viewed in strong connection with the immigrant's relations to his or her own ethnic community. The case of Somalis and Russians in the HMA indicates that in the ethnically mixed setting, minority–majority relations have a significant role in the formation of ethnic residential preferences. The paper is based on in-depth interviews with the Somali (n = 24) and Russian (n = 26) immigrants, social workers and housing authority personnel (n = 18).

Keywords:

• Ethnic segregation
• residential preferences
• Somalis
• Russians
• Helsinki

Acknowledgements

This study is a part of a comparative research project on Nordic welfare states and the dynamics and effects of ethnic segregation (NODES, 4720426). Financial support from NORFACE research programme on Migration in Europe – Social, Economic, Cultural and Policy Dynamics is acknowledged.