The History of Finland: Milestones and Perceptions ECNAIS / HYRY Conference Helsinki Henrik Meinander Changing perspectives National views never static, they change with society The nation, often described as An imagined community (Benedict Anderson) But a traditional MASTER STORY is still important and necessary Can be, should be combined with new perspective (Global History, Micro History) Four milestones The nation is created ideologically, then implemented as a mass movement The state is constructed and gains sovereignty Existential war experiences The welfare state: formation and renewal A nation in creation Over 600 years integrated part of Swedish Kingdom Joined 1809 to the Russian empire J.L. Runeberg, Elias Lnnrot & J.V. Snellman verbalized the idea of Finnishness Nationalism, a new religion suitably integrating for civic society The state & sovereignty The state construction started in 1809, enforced after 1863 In 1917 Finland was already a state within the state, ready for independency Power politics luckly favourable for Finland The Sovjet Union a necessary & unavoidable neighbour! War experiences The years the ultimate manhood test for the nation The war still a dominating chapter in the Finnish Patriotic Narrative The war continously reproduced in our memory culture: books, films, public statues etc The welfare state The swift construction of the Finnish welfare state a European record! Finns do not speak about their welfare state as a folkhem like the Swedes The transformation has been to rapid and often stressful EU membership? Increasingly understood as a milestone!