Finland: Toward a More Cautious Europeanization?

Abstract

Finland’s EU membership in 1995 is often seen as one of the watersheds in the country’s history, at times equated with some of the most fundamental events that have shaped Finland’s destiny. These include the end of Swedish rule in 1809, and the ensuing new status as an autonomous Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire; and full independence in 1917. While the former took place in the context of the Napoleonic Wars, the latter was linked to the Bolshevik revolution in Russia. Finland’s accession to the EU was also linked to broader European developments, namely the end of the Cold War and the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union. During this transformative period, Finland repositioned itself firmly in Western Europe through full participation in European economic and political integration.