Far Right Politics Is Bad for Business

I’ve been following the latest scandals around the far right, and this time it happened in Finland of all places. A country that still likes to imagine itself as quiet, neutral, and somehow above this kind of behavior. Yet here we are.

What’s interesting is that this didn’t even start as a political issue. It started with something much simpler and much uglier.

Almost two weeks ago, Miss Finland was photographed stretching her eyes and making a racist comment about eating with a Chinese person. A friend took the photo and posted it online. The backlash was immediate, and for a very simple reason: the Miss Finland and the organization behind her cannot and should not support openly racist behavior.

What made it worse was her response. Instead of apologizing, she claimed she had done nothing wrong. The racism was obvious, yet she chose denial over accountability. As a result, she lost her title. Consequences followed actions. Very straightforward.

This is where the far right stepped in.

Suddenly, several high-profile far-right politicians decided that her “rights” had been violated. They framed the situation as censorship and persecution. To make their point, they began posting similar photos of themselves online, mimicking the same racist gesture in supposed solidarity.

What they seemingly failed to consider was the outcome.

Now the story wasn’t just about one individual behaving badly. It became international news about politicians in Finland openly engaging in racist behavior toward people from East Asia. The context expanded instantly, and so did the damage.

And this is where business comes in.

Finland relies heavily on tourism. Lapland, the Northern Lights, winter experiences, Santa Claus. These are not small things. A significant portion of tourists visiting Finland come from Asian countries, particularly China, Japan, and South Korea. These travelers don’t just bring cameras. They bring money, investments, partnerships, and long-term interest in the country.

So what happens when global headlines start framing Finland as openly racist?

People reconsider.

Why would you spend thousands of euros to visit a country where politicians publicly mock people who look like you? Why invest, collaborate, or build relationships in a place that appears hostile by default?

This is why far-right politics is bad for business. Not theoretically. Practically.

We can see the same pattern elsewhere. Look at the United States. Increasing restrictions, extreme visa processes, demands for years of social media history, skyrocketing costs just to enter the country. The message is clear: you are not welcome unless proven otherwise. Unsurprisingly, many people decide it’s not worth the trouble.

And yet, the far right never seems to think about consequences.

Their actions are reactive, emotional, and driven by a narrow worldview where long-term effects simply do not exist. They act first, provoke outrage, and then act surprised when the economic fallout arrives.

Finland has always had a racism problem. It just used to stay behind closed doors. Now it’s out in the open, amplified by politicians who should understand responsibility better than anyone.

Frankly, I’m glad I left.

What worries me more is the broader trend. Extremes do not work. Neither far left nor far right creates stability, prosperity, or peace. What societies need is reason, balance, and leadership that understands that culture, economics, and diplomacy are deeply connected.

Racist gestures do not build nations.
They do not attract talent.
They do not grow economies.

And watching this unfold, it sometimes feels like the world has collectively lost its mind.