Vol 6 2002 - Review by Peter RochetteAuthor: Max Jakobson
Max Jakobson’s Finland in the New Europe, is concerned with the historical processes that led to Finland joining the European Union. He begins by examining the question of Finnish nationalism; identifying the "threat" that the nationalism of small countries, as a challenge against the status quo, poses to the New Europe. Finland historically maintained a low profile, its main concern over the last few centuries being to avoid aggravating the czarist, and later soviet, governments of Russia in order to maintain a measure of autonomy. In the nineteenth century Finland underwent a transformation - from a poor nation to a wealthy modern, industrialised one - achieved without foreign aid and with a democratic system of government. Jakobson claims Finland as an example against the thesis that poor nations must be excused using dictatorial methods of government because no other way leads to economic development. (p. 16).
But it is twentieth century history that forms the focus for Jakobson’s work. Most especially, the political struggle Finland faced in maintaining its independence against two large and powerful political ideologies - Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. The crisis came in 1939 - when Russia made territorial demands on Finland to bolster the defence of Leningrad. So in November 1939 Stalin launched an attack which, although the Finns held out for 100 days, led to peace terms that were worse than the ones rejected by Finland before the attack. Stalin got the territory that he wanted plus a whole lot more. (p. 79).
During the Cold War, Finland was determined to preserve its democratic system. Jakobson details the struggle with extraordinary insight, and one can often glimpse a personal touch to his account. One must remember that Jakobson was often personally involved in the diplomacy that frames the events of Finnish twentieth century history. So it is with a unique personal perspective that Jakobson can chart the development of Finnish neutrality, and Finland’s journey in recent times towards integration with the EU. Jakobson concludes that Finland is in the position to gain the benefits of integration whilst avoiding the pitfalls of globalisation. As he says; "National independence has become a function of economic competitiveness." (p. 160). And Finland is competing well.
This book makes an important contribution to any analysis of Finland’s place in New Europe and how it got there. This work ultimately provides a very thoughtful and insightful analysis of Finnish nationalism in history.