Abstract
AbstractUtilizing such concepts as “colonial complicity” and “colonialism without colonies”, this chapter examines the case of Finns and Finland as a nation that was once oppressed but also itself complicit in colonialism. It argues that although the Finnish nation has historically been positioned in Europe between western and eastern empires, Finns were not only passive victims of (Russian) imperial rule but also active participants in the creation of imperial vocabulary in various colonial contexts, including Sápmi in the North.This chapter argues that although Finns never had overseas colonies, they were involved in the colonial world, sending out colonizers and producing images of colonial “others”, when they, in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, felt the need to project themselves as white and European (not Russian or non-white, such as Mongols). Finns adopted, adapted, and created common European knowledge about colonized areas, cultures, and people and participated in constructing racial hierarchies. These racialized notions were also applied to the Sámi. Furthermore, Finns benefitted economically from colonialism, sent out missionaries to Owambo in present-day Namibia to spread the ideas of Western/White/Christian superiority and instruct the Owambo in European ways. Finns were also involved in several colonial enterprises of other European colonizing powers, such as in the Belgian Congo or aboard Captain Cook’s vessel on his journey to the Antipodes.
Highlights
Colonialism is often understood as control of a geographical area overseas obtained by invasion or settlement
The Finnish nation has historically been positioned in Europe between western and eastern empires
The chapters of Finnish Colonial Encounters demonstrate that Finns have engaged in colonial projects with regard to Sápmi3 and the Sámi people in the North, which is a more familiar claim to Finns, and produced and circulated colonial knowledge and constructed racial hierarchies
Summary
Colonialism is often understood as control of a geographical area overseas obtained by invasion or settlement. We argue that Finns adopted ideologies and identities that are not easy to disentangle from the more typical trajectories of colonialism They contributed to common European knowledge about colonized areas, cultures, and people; sent out missionaries to spread ideas of Western/White/Christian superiority; and participated in the construction of racial hierarchies. Rather than offering an all-encompassing account of the Finnish relationship to colonialism, the articles included in the volume shed light on a variety of topics and perspectives so as to open up new approaches in the field of “colonialism without colonies” This introduction, offers a brief overview of some of the overseas colonial activities of Finns not discussed in the individual chapters so as to provide a fuller idea of the phenomenon. The introduction ends with brief introductions of the individual chapters
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