To Be or to Become ‘European’? ‘Westernizing’ Narratives in Post-Cold War Finland Cover Image

To Be or to Become ‘European’? ‘Westernizing’ Narratives in Post-Cold War Finland
To Be or to Become ‘European’? ‘Westernizing’ Narratives in Post-Cold War Finland

Author(s): Elena Dragomir
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences
Published by: Asociatia Romana pentru Studii Baltice si Nordice
Keywords: Finland; European Union; westernizing narratives; finlandization debate

Summary/Abstract: The Finnish ‘westernizing’ narrative emphasizes Finland’s ‘westernness’, i.e. the idea that Finland and Finns have always been western and part of the ‘European family’. The recent past is not seen as an obstacle for this interpretation. Thus, according to this type of discourse, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and ‘liberated’ from the constraints of the Cold War, Finland could finally ‘return’ to the West, to Europe, to its ‘natural’ origins. This article examines in short what might be called the post-Cold War narrative of Finnish westernness as it appears in the English language sources. It argues that the westernizing narrative is very important in justifying Finland’s post-Cold War position in the international politics, especially its position in the European politics. The article is divided in two parts. The first one examines the narrative of the westernness of Finland, Finns or Finnish ‘identity’ as it appears in some scientific writings, press materials and political texts. Within this narrative an important element is the re-evaluation of Finland’s international position during the Cold War. Therefore, the Finnish security ‘solution’ – by some called ‘Nordic and neutral identity’ – is either criticized, attacked and characterized as an aberration and betrayal of the ‘Finnish western identity’, or accepted as the only possible ‘instrument for pursuing national security interests’ in those times. The second part of the article advances some explanations for this narrative and addresses questions such as: why was it developed, by whom, and how successful was it? The article shows how highly political is the (re)presentation of Finnish history and how much its ‘western character’ is related to Finland’s current political situation and goals in Europe. It also reveals how important the ideology is in backing a political choice.

  • Issue Year: 1/2009
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 31-50
  • Page Count: 20
  • Language: English