Arki 2026 is an international event series that examines how democracy and civil society appear in people’s everyday lives. The series combines time-use research, political science, and sociology to explore how time is divided between work, care, rest, and participation — and what would be needed to make more room for civic engagement.
The central question is: what does democratic participation look like in daily life, and how is it shaped by the society we live in?
This is explored by comparing Nordic countries (Finland and Norway), often described as “WEIRD societies” (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic) characterized by high levels of trust and strong institutions, with Bosnia and Herzegovina, where everyday life is shaped by family networks, community ties, and ongoing societal transformation. Together, these perspectives offer a nuanced picture of how the structures of daily life either enable or limit participation. The event series is held in English.
Session 1: The Finnish Rhythm – What Makes the World’s Happiest Country Tick?
Wed 8 April
13:15–14:45 CET / 14:15–15:45 Finland time
University of Jyväskylä, RUUD101 (Juho) + Online
This session explores how everyday life in Finland is structured and how this shapes democratic participation. It examines themes such as the welfare state, trust as democratic capital, equality as a precondition for participation, and the role of shared time structures in sustaining the social contract.
Speaker: Elina Hakoniemi (Demos Helsinki & University of Helsinki)
Elina Hakoniemi is a Senior Researcher in the New Governance team at Demos Helsinki and a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Helsinki. Her research focuses on welfare states, the historical development of governance and institutions, the interaction between the state and civil society, and the role of crises in shaping societal temporality. She has contributed to projects such as WELGO, PAKO, and CO3, and is currently involved in a research project on the conceptual history of human rights in Finland (Kamppailu ihmisoikeuksista Suomessa 1945-2020, Kone Foundation).
