The Autonomous Finnish Man Against the Nanny State in the Age of Online Outrage

The State and the Citizen in the “Whiskygate” Alcohol Policy Debate

Författare

  • Matilda Hellman
  • Anu Katainen

Nyckelord:

alcohol policy, autonomy, citizenship, collective identity, Finland, gender, social media

Abstract

The article examines the relationship between the citizen and the state as conceptualized in the online indignation over authorities’ interference in the use of the word “whisky” in relation to the Beer Expo fair in Helsinki in October 2014. The episode, dubbed “Whiskygate” by Finnish media, exposes value struggles regarding the legitimacy of regulatory state agencies, citizens’ spontaneous reactions to restrictions of the symbolic sphere, and the individual alcohol consumer’s identity constructs in relation to a collective identity of the Finnish people as a nation. The metanarrative that unfolds in the online discussions is one of a great suppression of competent male citizens. Essentially, the online outrage represented a defence of citizen autonomy, of individuals who claimed a moral right to lead their lives according to their own preferences without interference by authorities. In the discussion threads, the female gender, left-wing and Centre Party supporters, as well as state bureaucrats were claimed to in- fringe upon the freedom of the people. The outrage can be interpreted against the backdrop of current Finnish populist discourses.

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Sektion
Artikkelit

Publicerad

2015-12-01

Referera så här

Hellman, M., & Katainen, A. (2015). The Autonomous Finnish Man Against the Nanny State in the Age of Online Outrage: The State and the Citizen in the “Whiskygate” Alcohol Policy Debate. Sosiologia, 52(4), 334–349. Hämtad från https://journal.fi/sosiologia/article/view/124201