Integration, Recognition and Security: Discourses on social support by families with a Russian background living in Finland

This article analyses the discursive representations of social support received through social relationships by families with a Russian background. As a result of the analysis, three discourses are identified: the ‘Integration’ discourse, the ‘Recognition’ discourse and the ‘Security’ discourse. These discourses define the social support received through informal and formal relationships from different angles, highlighting the complexity and tension between relations. The analysis reveals situations in which social support is lacking and shows how the existence of social relationships does not intrinsically carry positive effects.