This edited volume offers a detailed analysis of Finlands transformation from neutrality to a pivotal NATO member following Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
With contributions from scholars and military practitioners, the volume fills a critical gap in the literature by focusing on Finlands changing security landscape. It explores Finlands emerging role within NATO, changes in Finnish strategic posture, the perspectives of key allies, and its evolving relations with Russia and China. Divided into three thematic sections, the book covers Finland's shifting military-strategic context, its changing security orientation with great powers, and the impact on its key national security practices such as conscription, total defence, and border security. Finlands geostrategic importance is emphasised, particularly as NATOs frontline state with the longest border with Russia, and as a key player in Arctic policy. In contrast to broader regional analyses, this book provides a comprehensive and focused examination of Finlands national security in its own right, offering vital insights for scholars and policymakers.
This book will be of much interest to students of Strategic and Security studies, NATO, Nordic studies and International Relations.
The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.
Arvustused
In a turbulent security environment, Finlands role as a NATO ally is pivotal. This timely, incisive edited volume assesses Finlands strategic transformation and its contributions to the Alliance, offering sharp insights of major value to scholars and practitioners across security studies.
Lisbeth Aggestam, Associate Professor, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
Finland in NATO - Perspectives on Strategy provides an up to date all-around analysis of Finlands grand strategy since Russias invasion of Ukraine. It offers a solid understanding of the challenges Finland faces as a fresh member of NATO in the context of the present and future changes in Baltic-Arctic regional security.
Tuomas Forsberg, Professor of International Relations, Tampere University, Finland
An excellent and important book on a new and pivotal NATO ally. A must read for anyone interested in NATOs evolving Northern, Eastern, and Western character.
Sten Rynning, Professor of War Studies Director of Danish Institute for Advanced Study, University of Southern Denmark
Foreword, Christopher Cavoli Introduction: Why Finland Matters, Tommi
Koivula, Matti Puranen and Antti Seppo PART I: Finlands Changing Regional
Strategic Context
Chapter 1: A Pragmatic Approach: Historical Insights into
Finnish Defence and Political Turning Points, Petteri Jouko
Chapter 2:
Strategic Cultural Adaptation and Change in Finland, Antti Seppo
Chapter 3:
Nordic, Baltic or Part of the High North? Considerations on Finlands
Geostrategic Position as a NATO Member State, Tommi Koivula and Heljä Ossa
Chapter 4: From Survival to Deterrence: Military Strategic Thinking in
Finland, Petteri Kajanmaa
Chapter 5: The (R)evolution in Finnish Deterrence,
Jan Hanska PART II: Finland and Great Power Competition
Chapter 6: Continuity
and Change in Finnish Multilateralism, Post-2022, Hanna Ojanen
Chapter 7: The
Evolution and Significance of FinnishUS Defence Cooperation, Kimmo Kaipainen
Chapter 8: Sweden, Norway and the UK as Finlands Allies, Antti Pihlajamaa
and Oscar Lassenius
Chapter 9: FinnishRussian Relations Before and after
Finlands NATO Membership: The Management of Enduring Dilemmas, Sinikukka
Saari
Chapter 10: New Factors: Finlands China Relations in the Era of
Great Power Competition, Matti Puranen PART III: The Finnish Model of
Security in Turbulent Times
Chapter 11: The Role of Comprehensive Security as
Part of Deterrence in NATO Finland, Christian Perheentupa
Chapter 12: Finnish
Conscription and Willingness to Defend as Strategic Assets, Teemu Häkkinen
and Miina Kaarkoski
Chapter 13: Borders Under Uncertainty: Finlands Hybrid
Security Model in the NATO Era, Minna Jokela
Chapter 14: Still a Valued
Instrument? Allied Finland and International Crisis Management, Katariina
Mustasilta
Chapter 15: Dynamics of Small-State Strategic Intelligence:
Joining NATO in Times of Militarised International Relations, Olli Teirilä
Chapter 16: Conclusions: A Leverage State in the Making, Tommi Koivula, Matti
Puranen and Antti Seppo
Tommi Koivula is Professor of Strategic Studies at the Department of Warfare, Finnish National Defence University. His books include European Union and the Use of Military Force: Uncovering the Myths (2016) and NATOs Burden-Sharing Disputes: Past, Present and Future Prospects (2022, with Heljä Ossa).
Matti Puranen is Associate Professor of Strategic Studies at the Department of Warfare, Finnish National Defence University. He is the co-editor of Competing Visions for International Order Challenges for a Shared Direction in an Age of Global Contestation (2025, with Ville Sinkkonen and Veera Laine).
Antti Seppo is Researcher in the STRAX (Transforming Strategic Cultures in Europe) research project at the Department of Warfare, Finnish National Defence University. He is the author of From Guilt to Responsibility and Beyond: The Evolution of German Strategic Culture After the End of the Cold War (2021).
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