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The History of Finland: Milestones and Perceptions

The History of Finland: Milestones and Perceptions. ECNAIS / HYRY Conference Helsinki 14.4.2010 Henrik Meinander. Changing perspectives. National views never static, they change with society The nation, often described as An imagined community (Benedict Anderson)

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The History of Finland: Milestones and Perceptions

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  1. The History of Finland:Milestones and Perceptions ECNAIS / HYRY Conference Helsinki 14.4.2010 Henrik Meinander

  2. Changing perspectives • National views never static, they change with society • The nation, often described as An imagined community (Benedict Anderson) • But a traditional MASTER STORY is still important and necessary • Can be, should be combined with new perspective (Global History, Micro History)

  3. Four milestones • The nation is created ideologically, then implemented as a mass movement • The state is constructed and gains sovereignty • Existential war experiences 1939-1945 • The welfare state: formation and renewal

  4. A nation in creation • Over 600 years integrated part of Swedish Kingdom • Joined 1809 to the Russian empire • J.L. Runeberg, Elias Lönnrot & J.V. Snellman verbalized the idea of Finnishness • Nationalism, a new religion suitably integrating for civic society

  5. The state & sovereignty • The state construction started in 1809, enforced after 1863 • In 1917 Finland was already a state within the state, ready for independency • Power politics luckíly favourable for Finland • The Sovjet Union – a necessary & unavoidable neighbour!

  6. War experiences • The years 1939-1945 the ultimate manhood test for the nation • The war still a dominating chapter in the Finnish Patriotic Narrative • The war continously reproduced in our memory culture: books, films, public statues etc

  7. The welfare state • The swift construction of the Finnish welfare state – a European record! • Finns do not speak about their welfare state as a ”folkhem” like the Swedes • The transformation has been to rapid and often stressful • EU membership? Increasingly understood as a milestone!

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