Photo: Seppo Samuli/Str/Lehtikuva Ready to lock horns (from left): Party leaders Anni Sinnemäki (Greens), Timo Soini (“True Finns”), Mari Kiviniemi (Centre), Jyrki Katainen (National Coalition Party), Päivi Räsänen (Christian Democrats) and Jutta Urpilainen (Social Democrats) prepare for a televised debate on April 6, 2011.
Finland has a strong tradition of well-functioning democracy. Since the Civil War of 1918, social conflicts have invariably been resolved peacefully. But today the EU – and Finland – must adapt to radical social changes resulting from rapid globalisation. Concerns about the future are evident in the run-up to the parliamentary elections of April 17, 2011. Rising support for the populist “True Finns” party has placed them among the major parties. Vilho Harle, professor of international relations at the University of Tampere, assesses what this new situation means for Finnish democracy.
