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The Annual Varve of 1997 – New Associations in Jyväskylä at the End of the 3rd Millennium Martti Siisiäinen University of Jyväskylä. Structure of the Presentation. What the associations established in 1997 – the record breaking year – are like in their social and sociological features?
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The Annual Varve of 1997 – New Associations in Jyväskylä at the End of the 3rd Millennium Martti SiisiäinenUniversity of Jyväskylä
Structure of the Presentation • What the associations established in 1997 – the record breaking year – are like in their social and sociological features? • What do the associations of 1997 tell about the character of Finnish collective action at the turn of the Millennium? • Is it possible to find a specific explanation – or explanations at all – for the registration peak of associations?
Data basis of the presentation • Research project “Third sector and innovations In Jyväskylä” (2001-2002) • The Register of Associations as a book of organized interests (est. 1919)
Figure 1. Registration of new voluntary associations in Jyväskylä 1920-2002
Registration of different types of associations in Jyväskylä 1920-2001
The associations of 1997 and the continuity of the associational tradition • The dominance of the formal registered voluntary association is the first continuing factor in Finnish collective action and voluntary “sector”. • A second feature suggesting the development of the continuity of collective action was the steady proceeding of the differentiation and the cumulation of associational networks.
(1) Individualization of membership interests • From ideological to recreational associations (life style) • From members of central organizations to ”wild” associations • From generalistic to specifist associations • From associations requiring strong commitment to associations based on weak commitment and requiring an investment of only a small part of personality
(2) Internationalization and diversity • Changes in the environment from which associational systems’ borders rise • Production of new elements of interpretation frames and structural models and formats of action • new kinds of opportunities to some parts of local associations • a new kind of “diversity” compared to the old system of associations • Increasing national diversities & decreasing global diversity? • ”killer spesies” and the ”extinction” of traditional types of associations • Growing importance of the media • from production to consumption
(3) Wildness and the lightness of organizational structures • Own model or ”business idea” • Growing importance of international and local factors • Informal recruitment of members • Lightness of organizational structures (direct decision-making) • Smallness
(4) Light commitment and the problem of solidarity • Solidarity = forces which bind the collective and the individual together • Problem of ”organic solidarity” (Durkheim): how to develop ”genuine” individualism and to avoid egoism • Nordic welfare stete(s) as creators of ”forced solidarity” from above society dominated by the logic of the market from assocations as production (collectives) towards associations as consumption (individual ego projects) • From stable and long-lasting towards sporadic solidarity • Preconditions for ”disinterestedness”
(5) Centrality of culture in the new organizing • Centre of gravidity of social movements is moving towards cultural movements • Cultural & associations of other hobbies form 2/3 of new registrations • Continuity & renewal • Break-down of (ideological) associational subcultures • Alternatives
(6) The naming of associations • From names representing collective identites towards names as ”logos” or signs for ways or styles of life • Internationalization or Anglo-Americanization of names • Decrease of the names than have more than one meanings (e.g. originating from puns or proverbs)
No ”big” explanation(s) found • Parallel & cross-cutting tendencies: • Registrations and the recovery from the recession develop in phase • EU-membership & EU-programmes & ”project society” • Privatization of municipal services • Dominace of status over class factors