Finnish-Swedish relations
The Finnish-Swedish relations is an area that may intrigue foreigners interested in Finland and/or Sweden. Particularly in Finland, the issue emerges both in everyday pub conversations, in frequent exposés over Finland's history, and also, although somewhat more convoluted, in motives for governmental proposals and actions as reported in Finnish news broadcasts on English or other foreign languages. In Sweden, this relationship is a recurrent important theme of the 20th century history, although maybe by most Swedes considered to be an issue of purely historical relevance now when both countries since 1995 are members of the European Union.
Below follows sort of a catalogue that for sure is deliberatly biased in order to demonstrate a particular Point of View that however is not uncommon to encounter in Finland. Hopefully, in due time, light can be shed on various aspects of these issue through contributions by qualified Wikipedians.
| Historic event | anti-Swedish interpretation |
|---|---|
| Cudgel War | alienation Finns–Swedes |
| 30 Years War Northern Wars Scanian War | Diminishing importance for Sweden of Finnish territory |
| Great Northern War (Greater Wrath) Hats' Russian War (Lesser Wrath) | Swedish support perceived to have failed to appear |
| Gustav III's Russian War (Anjala Conspiracy) | Swedish support perceived to have failed to appear Idea of separation from Sweden gains support |
| Finnish War | Swedish support perceived to have failed to appear (semi-) autonomous Russian Grand Duchy of Finland created |
| 19th century | the separation turns out to be advantageous for the Finns |
| Finland's language strife | |
| Russification of Finland | The Swedes appear powerless and/or eager for Russian friendship |
| Finland's declaration of independence | The Swedish government appear eager for friendship with Bolshevist Russia |
| Civil War in Finland | Sweden's government support the rebells by interning White Guards en route from Åland Support for Finland's lawful government limited to some private citizens |
| Åland Crisis | The Swedes appear eager to take advantage of a situation precarious for Finland |
| Finland's language strife | Swedish public opinion, and government, intervene in internal Finnish affairs |
| Winter War | Swedish government avoid to give expected military support Swedish government gives indirect support to the Soviet Union by hindering help to arrive and by pressuring Finland to an unfavorable peace |
| Continuation War | Swedish public opinion hostile, particularly after the war |
| 1950s, 1960s YYA Treaty post-war poverty | Sweden takes advantage of a situation precarious for Finland, drains Finland for workers, but treats the immigrants from Finland disrespectfully |
| Finlandization | |
| Application for membership in the European Union | Sweden's government ignores Finland and doesn't even discuss the issue before the Swedish announcement |
Categories: Politics stubs | Finnish history | Swedish history