Welcome to Magma

What is a think tank?

The purpose of think tanks is to bridge the gap between scientific analysis and political decision-making. This requires a combination of long-term strategic thinking and the ability to react quickly. Think tanks are not static: their objectives and makeup evolve as society and the world in general evolve. In Finland there are at present over 20 think tanks, and there are more than 5,000 around the world.

What is Magma (Finland’s Swedish Think Tank)?

In an increasingly globalised world, tolerance and diversity provide clear and strong competitive advantages. Finland has two official languages, Finnish and Swedish. Magma’s activities are based on the understanding that bilingualism is an important feature of Finland that contributes to the country’s cultural diversity, both now and in the future. Magma is a think tank that is independent from party politics. Its objective is to pave the way for a fresh approach to the future of the Swedish language in Finland, by means of professional analysis and by stimulating debate.

What does the Think Tank do?

Magma performs an analytical function and serves as an arena for discussion. Its studies and impact and risk analyses provide a basis for decision-making. Magma also organises conferences and seminars. The results are presented on its website, in its own publications, in articles and at public events. Magma strives to maintain a vibrant, critical and unprejudiced debate on how changes in the world and the surrounding society affect minority languages.

Most of Magma's material is published in Swedish, but also Finnish and English is used in some reports and contexts.

Activities

Public opinion surveys

Every year, Magma orders surveys from the Finnish market-research company Taloustutkimus on areas of special interest. In 2009, surveys were made on Finnish-language speakers’ attitudes to the Swedish language and culture in Finland; on the Swedish-speaking population's attitudes towards immigration; as well as a survey on the Swedish-speaking population's interest in the European Parliament elections. A qualitative analysis of Finland’s foreign-language community’s attitude to the Swedish language and culture in Finland was also performed in collaboration with the Helsinki Times, an English-language paper in Helsinki.

Comparative studies

As a way of comparing and sharing information with other communities, Magma undertakes comparative studies. The last comparative report, Europeisk mosaik, a book by professor Sten Berglund and Kjetil Duvold, Doctor of Political Science, positions the Swedish-speaking Finns in relation to other European minorities.

Reports

Magma has its own series of published reports, and about 3-4 reports are published every year. These relate to the situation of the Swedish-speaking population in Finland in different ways; to the Swedish language, or to other topical issues. The latest report to be published, Det sammanhängande kittet (Magma report 3/2010), looks at the Swedish-language media in Finland in relation to different minority language media in Europe.

Focus

Based on a number of demographic, political, cultural and structural changes that are impacting the Swedish language’s status in Finland, the Think Tank annually initiates specific focus areas. So far, these have included inter alia immigration, public service broadcasting and consequeces of the ongoing structural reform in Finland.

All activities and associated documentation can be found here on Magma’s website, www.magma.fi

Organisation

Magma - Finland's Swedish Think Tank - is run by the Finnish-Swedish Institute’s national federation and its activities are financed by five different foundations (Svenska Kulturfonden, Svenska folkskolans vänner, Föreningen Konstsamfundet, Stiftelsen för Åbo Akademi and Sparbanksstiftelsen i Helsingfors). The Think Tank’s board comprises a chair and six board members.

Personnel

Nils Erik Forsgård, Director
Tel.: +358 (0)50 338 6963

Olav S. Melin, Society and Media Relations
Tel.: +358 (0)40 351 7325

Björn Sundell, Social Analysis and Study
Tel.: +358 (0)50 594 7550

Martina Harms-Aalto, Programme Manager (Magma-Akademin)
Tel.: +358 (0)40 596 0029

Lia Markelin, Coordinator
Tel.: +358 (0)40 725 1775

Helena Slater, Assistant
Tel.: +358 (0)44 257 8065