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| Things To Know Land of Forests and Lakes The Islands and Lapland Traveling in Finland A Bridge Between East and West |
A Bridge Between East and West
Finland's 20th-century relationship with Russia has often been misunderstood. The term “Finlandization” was used disparagingly
by some to describe the country's carefully orchestrated policy toward its giant neighbor, but Finland's sensitive geographic
position dictated this policy. For centuries, Russia competed with Sweden for domination over Finland. After 1807, Russian
influence prevailed. Finland's declaration of independence in 1917 led to an uneasy relationship between the two countries,
and resulted in bitter conflict during World War II. After the war, Finland was forced to tread a careful path between the
Cold War policies of East and West. The Finnish politician who did the most to maintain national identity under these circumstances
was Urho K. Kekkonen, who was the country's president from 1956 to 1981. Kekkonen's pragmatism and his careful balancing act
between East and West earned him much criticism from Western politicians. But Finland remained essentially a Scandinavian
country while maintaining “friendly coexistence” with Russia. Finland's rapid emergence, post-Cold War, as a democratic, pluralist
and modern society is a testament to the wisdom of Kekkonen's strategy. It is said that he frequently conducted discussions
with visiting Russian politicians in the relaxation of a traditional sauna, where everyone feels happily equal.
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