Experts surprised at poll results indicating widespread lack of fear of Russia

“No great unsolved problems between the countries”

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Finnish Russia experts are surprised at the results of a recent poll commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat and conducted by Suomen Gallup, which reveals that a clear majority of Finns feel that neighbouring Russia poses no threats.
      The poll showed that while a third of Finns have reservations about the great power neighbour in the east, only one in five felt that there is reason to fear Russia.
     
“Surprisingly few consider Russia to be a security threat”, ponders Professor Markku Kivinen, director of the Alexanteri Institute of the University of Helsinki.
      “The proportion of those with a positive attitude is fairly large - two out of three. I would have expected no more than 50 per cent”, says Russia expert Ilmari Susiluoto at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
     
Kivinen says that the results reflect a multi-level attitude toward Russia.
      “There are no great unresolved questions between the country - but rather a few small practical points of friction. For this reason, a large proportion of the nation take a serene attitude”, Kivinen says.
     
Susiluoto points out that of all nations bordering Russia, Finns have the most positive attitude toward their neighbour. He cites historical reasons for this.
      “The Baltic countries, for instance, have their own experiences.”
      After the Second World War Finland friendship with the Soviet Union was imposed on the Finns for foreign policy reasons. Nevertheless, even this somewhat coerced friendship may have influenced real attitudes.
     
When hundreds of thousands of Finns travelled to Leningrad as tourists, Russian conditions became familiar both in the good and bad.
      “When a Finnish construction worker came back to Finland he would tell his friends in the sauna amusing stories about the trip. They were not horror stories, just good anecdotes”, Susiluoto says.
      The same holds true for businessmen engaged in trade with the east. The neighbouring country became more familiar and was demystified.
     
Both Kivinen and Susiluoto attribute Finnish suspicions to the wars that were fought between Finland and the Soviet Union.
      “That effect is decreasing with each year. After all, it is 65 years since the war”, Kivinen says.
     
One big reason for present attitudes is that Russia is seen as being very different from Finland.
      “For Finns, Russia remains the great other. In Finland we have plenty of Russia experts, but the knowledge of Russian culture and society among average Finns is ultimately fairly small.”
     
The poll showed that voters supporting the Green League and the National Coalition Party had the greatest reservations about Russia.
      Susiluoto says that the Greens’ attitude toward Russia is fed largely by environmental issues. The Baltic Sea is in its current poor state largely thanks to Russia.
      “Another important reason is [veteran Green politician, MEP] Heidi Hautala, who has often been outspoken on Russian human rights issues”, Susiluoto points out.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Green MP criticises Russia at centenary celebration of Finnish Parliament (2.6.2006)
  One third of Finns call for more courageous expressions of opinion on Russia (13.9.2010)
  Katainen: Finns jumpy about debate on Russia (20.8.2010)

Helsingin Sanomat