Seminar on Finland’s concept of comprehensive security delved deep into resilience thinking

In recent years, governments have begun to increase societal resilience and preparedness to manage interconnected security risks and complex crises. These range from the climate disaster to migration, disinformation and transnational terrorism to food insecurity, natural catastrophes, pandemics and conventional inter-state war and beyond.

On 9 June, the Finnish Embassy invited UK-based policymakers, civil servants, diplomats, researchers and journalists to hear about Finland’s National Resilience and the Concept of Comprehensive Security.

The seminar was held at the Finnish Ambassador Mr Jukka Siukosaari’s residence and included presentations from Mr Petri Toivonen, Secretary General and Mr Christian Perheentupa, Assistant Secretary General for the Security Committee; Rain Mutka, Administrative Director of the National Emergency Supply Agency; and Niko Ristikankare, the CEO of Wega, an independent energy service company. The seminar was followed by a reception and an enthusiastic exchange of ideas about societal resilience.

Photo: Mr Petri Toivonen, Secretary General for the Security Committee, at the Finnish Ambassador’s Residence.

The concept for Comprehensive Security is the Finnish model of cross-governmental preparedness, where authorities, businesses, NGOs, and citizens are jointly responsible for safeguarding society’s vital functions. The aim is that during whichever type of crisis, the entirety of Finnish Society is able to rapidly mobilize resources where needed, recover quickly, and adapt its functions based on the lessons learned. Baselines of the Finnish Concept of Comprehensive Security are described in the Security Strategy for Society(Link to another website.) (2017). In the core of the Strategy are Seven Functions Vital for Society.


Photo: 7 Functions Vital for Society from the 2017 Security Strategy for Society

Participants were particularly interested in Finland’s National Defence Courses that aim to improve cooperation between various sectors of society in crises and to promote the networking of people working in the various fields of comprehensive security. The 72h concept(Link to another website.) that details the level of home preparedness recommended by the authorities and NGOs was also a subject of great interest.

Attendees were also keen to learn how the Finnish model of preparedness could fit in other countries. Mr Toivonen, Secretary General for the Security Committee, commented that although the comprehensive security model works in Finland it does not necessarily work in other countries. The Finnish model was tailored to Finland’s specific needs and capacities ever since the end of the Second World War, and adjusted in accord with changes in Finland’s security landscape. Hence, each country should seek to tailor their preparedness model according to their own societal and political structures. Finland is happy to help.