Finland's Security Policy in the I970's
| Author | Aimo Pajunen |
| DOI | 10.1177/001083677200700112 |
| Published date | 01 March 1972 |
| Date | 01 March 1972 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Finland’s Security Policy in the I970’s:
Background and Perspectives
AIMO PAJUNEN
The author traces the development of Finland’s security policy through the 1960’s and
the beginning of the 1970’s.
Finland’s foreign policy activity has inreased beginning with membership in the
United Nations Security Council. The preparations for the European Security Con-
ference have given Finland the opportunity of working positively for European
security. The Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance with the
Soviet Union was renewed in 1970 for a further twenty years.
Trade policy has created certain problems for Finland. A free trade agreement with
the EEC has been initialled but not yet signed. The Parliamentary Defence Committee
presented its conclusions in 1971, and defence policy has become the subject of greater
interest for all political parties.
1. INTRODUCTION
open in an atmosphere of stable domestic
politics, was not realized. The 1970’s have
In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s several
already witnessed three parliamentary and
aspects of Finland’s security policy at-
two caretaker governments.
tracted international attention and gave
But ordinary politics in Finland seldom
rise to various interpretations. Her activity
seem ordinary. Dramatic and dramatized
on the foreign policy level has been nota-
events are never absent, but their impor-
ble : the extension of the Treaty of Friend-
tance should not be exaggerated as has
ship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance
sometimes been the case. On occasion this
(FCMA Treaty) with the Soviet Union,
has meant that the contours of future
membership in the UN Security Council,
perspectives have been blurred, so that
the proposal of a Finnish candidate for the
outside observers have misunderstood sit-
position of Secretary General, the success-
uations and have consequently come to
ful promotion of a European security con-
mistaken conclusions, such as in the dis-
ference, hosting the first phase of SALT
cussion on ’Finlandization’.1
However,
together with Austria, the recognition of
through the years the basic policy of active
the two German states and of North Viet-
neutrality, friendly relations with the So-
nam, and so on. A
Parliamentary Defence
viet Union and anchorage in Nordic de-
Committee has submitted its report on a
mocracy has proved to be a lasting ele-
national defence policy, a quarter of a
ment in Finnish politics.
century after the last parliamentary de-
There is very little disagreement on the
fence revisions.
purpose of Finland’s security policy, as
A close link between foreign and do-
defined by the Parliamentary Defence
mestic policies has been evident in the
Committee:
events of recent years -
a typical pheno-
menon in all modern states. In Finland
The security policy of Finland is aimed at
this has been especially true in the ques-
satisfying the need for security of the
tions of the presidency and trade policy.
Finnish citizens through the maintenance of
The hope voiced
Finnish
by President Kekkonen
independence. Factors which in-
fluence the economic and social security of
at the dissolution of parliament in late
the citizens, as well as their spiritual free-
1971, that the Helsinki consultations would
dom of action, should be considered paral-
40
lel
to
the security policy. The inter-
the Christian Union, and a few members
dependence obtaining amongst all the mea-
of the Coalition and two People’s parties.
sures in various areas aimed at ensuring the
Among these were a few Kekkonen oppo-
security of the population is obvious. In
short, it
nents of an ultra-right
can be established that the main-
persuasion, but the
tenance of external security should guarantee
majority of the opponents preferred to
the preconditions for the nation to create by
have normal presidential elections as a
internal measures the maximum security for
matter of principle. In the foreign policy
its citizens. In the last analysis, our country
field Kekkonen’s
strives through her security policy to protect
reputation has been
her sovereignty, while protecting herself and
strengthened. In the Nordic countries he
her people from the destruction of war. This
is the established elder statesman. His
is
accomplished, first and foremost, by
good relations with the Soviet leaders are
avoiding engagement in armed conflicts and
well known and
by attempting
were solid
to diminish the likelihood of
enough not to
such conflicts developing.2
be shaken by a news leak that made public
confidential talks between him and the
On the other hand it is quite natural
leaders in Moscow.3
that there are different points of view as
With his sometimes radical and usually
to how this goal can best be achieved.
colourful statements, Kekkonen has always
In regard to the adherence to neutrality,
had the ability to stir up lively discussion
the policy towards the east and Nordic
and arouse opinions not only in Finland but
cooperation there has been considerable
in the other Nordic countries as well. It
agreement. The discussion has focused on,
is this trait, inherent in his actions, which
among other things, the contents of neu-
gives his portrait as a statesman a sharp
trality, defence and trade policies.
and personal profile.
The development of domestic politics
during the 1960’s was influenced by the
II. THE DOMESTIC BACKGROUND
strengthening position of the Social Demo-
OF SECURITY POLICY
.
crats and the trade unions, by the setback
During the 1960’s significant changes took
and division of the Centre party, and by
place in the structure of Finland’s domes-
the reappearance of the Communists in
tic politics. In the course of the decade
governmental politics.
President Kekkonen confirmed his posi-
A
schism developed in the Social Demo-
tion. In the 1962 election campaign Kek-
cratic labour movement in the 1950’s. The
konen’s opponent, former Attorney Gene-
election of old Vdino Tanner as party
ral Honka, had the support of the Social
chairman caused a final split and placed
Democrats,
the Social Democrats in
among others. In 1968 Kek-
an isolated posi-
konen was backed by all political par-
tion on both foreign and domestic issues.
ties, except the Coalition party (Sam-
The trade union, youth and sport organiza-
lingspartiet) and the Country Settlement
tions. were taken over by Mr. Skog’s sup-
party (Landsbygdpartiet) which put forth
porters who started their own party in
their own presidential candidates, although
1957. The participation of the Social
neither of them had
Democrats in
any real chance of
Fagerholm’s majority gov-
being elected.
ernment in 1958 and in the so-called
Early in the 1970’s there were no serious
Honka front against Kekkonen in the
presidential contenders willing to run for
autumn of 1961 coincided with two Berlin
election against President Kekkonen. At
crises, which served to sharpen the foreign
the beginning of 1973 parliament agreed
policy situation. In neither instance was
to prolong Kekkonen’s term of office until
the result advantageous for the Social
1978 through a special law. The op-
Democrats, but rather added to their
position to this came from the minority
isolation.
in the divided Country Settlement party,
It was the new party chairman, Paasio,
the four members of parliament from
who again gathered the party’s forces
41
and led it back into national politics
the party organization. With this stand
on a ’popular front’ basis. Here the former
the Communists could no longer partic-
anti-Communist and Kekkonen antagonist
ipate in the government; they returned
Väino Leskinen acted as a catalyst. He
to opposition in 1970. Above all the
reversed his position - one of the most
opposition has objected to the eco-
observed reversals in Finnish politics -
nomic policy and the agreement which
and served as foreign minister in two
Finland negotiated with the EEC. On this
governments prior to his death in 1972.
question the Communists have been sup-
The Paasio and Koivisto governments
ported by radical elements within the
(1966-68, 1968-70), with their success-
other parties, especially the Social Demo-
ful policies of economic stabilization, paved
crats.
the way for the election successes of the
The Agrarian Association, now known
Social Democrats in 1970 and 1972.
as the Center party, has always officially
Through their cooperation with the Com-
backed Kekkonen. The party’s foremost
munists they regained a strong position in
members, Johannes Virolainen and Ahti
the trade unions, where the ’Skogists’ lost
Karjalainen, have both served as Prime
their strongholds.
Minister, and the latter has been Foreign
Trade unions and employer organiza-
Minister several times as well. During the
tions have become powerful. Their polit-
decade of the 1960’s the party’s position
ical power has sometimes been criticized
was so strong that it was next to impos-
because it is not subject to parliamentary
sible to form a government without them.
control. The political impact of labour
The party has lost seats, however, due to
relations was illustrated in the fall of 1970
changes in the economic structure of the
when the wage negotiations were so
country and the associated problems for
threatened by lockouts and strikes that
the development areas. A group under
Kekkonen’s
mediatory measures were
Veikko Vennamo broke away and formed
needed to solve the dispute.
the Finnish ’Landsbygd’ or Country Settle-
The above situation has not been with-
ment party. It had 18...
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