Associations and Contention in France and Finland: Constructing the Society and Describing the Society

The role of voluntary associations in the repertoire of joint action in France and Finland captures in a concrete way the character of the political culture in the two countries. The role of associations is viewed, first, in a historical state–society perspective. In Finland, they appear to be the main vehicle for making claims and taking joint action, whereas in France they have long been harassed or barely tolerated by the state. Second, seen as a part of a wider repertoire of collective action, the dominant position of the associations in Finland – reflecting the character of Finnish ‘organization society’– is contrasted with action orientation in the French tradition, which is manifested, for example, in the linkage of associations with demonstrations. Third, the French and the Finnish view of ‘representation’, in a wide sense of the term, are compared. It is argued that a ‘descriptive’ vision ‘expressing’ society predominates in Finland, whereas a ‘constructive’ vision ‘producing’ society characterizes France. Finally, a few reflections are made on the French and the Finnish perceptions of societal dynamics and on the current problem of claim‐making.