Finland's Role in Western Policy since the Second World War

Abstract

The author tries to map the role of Finland in the economic, political and military strategy of the West, the United States as well as western Europe, after the Second World War. It is pointed out that US policy vis-à-vis Finland has not resorted to any conspicuous influence attempts, but has rather applied fairly subtle economic and diplomatic means of influence. In the late 1940's the United States applied a mixture of punishments and rewards and since then has resorted to influence attempts in the crisis situations in Finnish-Soviet relations. Special attention is paid to the role of Finland in the grey-zone doctrine of NATO in the late 1960's. The policy of western Europe has concentrated on economic means and should be seen in the context of the over-all integration policy of the European Community. On the Finnish side the development of economic integration in western Europe has resulted in a complex interplay of economic and foreign policy factors.