| Summary: | This thesis explores the experiences of activist scholars in Finland and how they perceive the possibilities to influence social change. Activist scholarship is situated at the intersection of academic and activist work, representing a form of research that is deeply connected to social realities. While international literature has increasingly engaged the issue of activist scholarship, voices from Finland remain underrepresented in the discourse. This study is offering insights into the experiences and meaning-making of four activist scholars in Finland engaged with issues of equality and equity, human rights, anti-racism, educational equity, and anti-colonialism.
Four adapted biographic-narrative interviews were conducted. Narrative categorical-content analysis was used to organize the data. This research explores how individuals make sense of their journey of becoming activist scholars, how they engage in and perceive their efforts toward social change, and what challenges and support structures shape these experiences.
While participants hesitate to label themselves activist scholars, their narratives reveal a deep commitment to social change. All participants demonstrate unique ways of linking academic and activist work, ranging from a focus on research aimed at influencing broader policy changes to a strong emphasis on teaching and inspiring future generations. Participants recognize their influence, but are also critical of their reach. Many view the grassroots level and their immediate surroundings as effective areas for influencing change. Across all narratives, the importance of collaboration and building networks is reappearing. The study further highlights that activist engagement takes diverse forms and is closely aligned with each individual's identity, positionality, and context. The study points to several unique local characteristics of activist scholarship and calls for further research into the experiences of activist scholars in Finland.
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