Blog Post 1

 What does it mean to be Finnish/Who are the Finns

 

  Unlike ethnic identity, which addresses an individual’s sense of belonging to an ethnic group, national identity pertains to the entire nation. As stated by Oxford dictionary, national identity is a nation’s cohesive sense of their identity as it relates to their distinctive traditions, language, and culture of the whole nation. It defines who belongs to the national community and who does not. As Triandafyllidou (1998) emphasizes, national identity is reliant on distinction from “significant Others,” whether external or internal, against whom the nation defines itself. These Others help establish symbolic boundaries that reinforce cohesion and continuity within the national group.

We will see how Finland’s national identity provides a clear example of this otherness in terms of its own identity— which has been shaped by foreign rule, cultural revival, military conflict, and internal diversity. Finnish identity has developed through both inclusion and exclusion. Since Finnish identity has been formed through in a variety of ways, we need to analyze its history and how its surrounding communities have contributed to what Finland is today.

 

Since as far back as the 12th century and up until the 19th century, Finland existed as part of the Swedish kingdom as a Grand Duchy. Sweden had therefore had quite a significant impact on Finland, especially so given the fact that Finnish and Swedish are the two recognized official languages of Finland (CIA, 2025). By the 18th century, despite Swedish being spoken by only around 15% of the Finnish population, it was actually the main language of the state and literature in Finland. While Finnish, on the other hand, was largely associated with rural populations and commoners (Mäkinen, 2016). This initial hierarchy between Swedish and Finnish is the basis of Sweden’s significance in Finland’s national identity. However this dynamic starts to shift with the Fennomania movement which began in  the early to mid 19th century. The Fennomania movement of the 1800s marked a turning point in Finnish national identity formation. Johan Wilhelm Snellman, a Swedish and Finnish speaking Finnish philosopher and academic was one of the main actors that contributed to the rise of the Finnish language in literature and elite society in Finland. Similar Finnish intellectuals and cultural elites followed suit and promoted the Finnish language, as well as Finnish folklore, and rural traditions as the authentic basis of the nation. This movement challenged Swedish cultural dominance and reframed Finnishness as a source of pride rather than inferiority (Mäkinen, 2016). This shift in language played a particularly important role and was representative of Finland’s new era of independence from Swedish rule. It also led to the development of Finnish presence in the country’s politics and governance. Through this shift in literature, historical writing, and overall cultural focus— the Fennomania movement constructed a shared national narrative that linked cultural revival to political independence and emancipation (Mäkinen, 2016).

When we look at Triandafyllidou’s framework for otherness in national identity, Sweden functions as an external significant Other for Finland. During the nationalist awakening or Fennomaniac movement, the prominent Swedish cultural dominance served as the necessary other for Finnish language and culture to be able to blossom into a basis of national identity. This contrast or otherness is a perfect example of what Triandafyllidou emphasizes for a nation’s development of an identity. Swedishness symbolized elite authority and foreign influence, helping nationalists articulate what Finnish identity was not.This very effectively aligns with Triandafyllidou’s concept of a “mirror Other,” used for differentiation rather than outright exclusion (Triandafyllidou, 1998).

While Finland may have ridded itself of Swedish elitism and sense of superiority over the Finns, they were quickly handed off to the Russian Empire, becoming a Grand Duchy under Russian rules in 1809 amidst the cultural shift mentioned above (CIA, 2025). However, this combination of events leads to further formation of the Finnish national identity as they were able to carry the same sentiment against Swedish control to that of the Russians.

Russia has played a central role in shaping Finnish national identity through the grand threat it posed to not only Finland but Europe as a whole in the early 20th century as the Soviet Union and the conflict between Finland and Russia. Finland was much more comfortable as a Grand Duchy under Russian rule since, learning from Sweden’s failure, the Tsar of Russia agreed to preserve Finnish culture (Pelo, 2020). This however was not the significant dynamic that contributed to Finland’s national identity. It was Finland’s achievement of independence in 1917 that marked a decisive break and sparked the conflict between the country and the Soviet Union. It was the Winter War that began in 1939 that led to Finland’s separation from the Soviet rule. Despite facing the much stronger Red Army, Finland was able to stand their ground and fend off the Soviets inflicting an odd-defying proportion of losses for the Soviets considering the size of Finland’s ski soldiers (Reese, 2008). Finland’s ability to preserve its independence against Joseph Stalin’s goal of absorbing Finland became a defining national myth. Russia therefore became a central reference point through which Finnishness was defined as autonomous, democratic, and defensive rather than imperial, strengthening the basis of Finnish national identity developed as a result of eradicating Swedish elitism in the country.

Coming back to otherness, Russia represents Finland’s most powerful external significant Other. According to Triandafyllidou, this dynamic between Russia and Finland would qualify as a rival nation Otherness as Russia threatened Finland’s homeland in the goal of attaining their territory. As a result of Finland’s ultimate victory the conflict shaped the country’s national identity through long-term conflict and domination. Russian imperial rule and Soviet aggression positioned Russia as the antithesis of Finnish sovereignty and democracy. Defining Finnishness in opposition to Russia strengthened internal cohesion and legitimized national defense narratives (Reese, 2008). Russia continues to function as a central external reference point in Finnish identity.

 

Evidently, Finland’s national identity has been shaped through resilient and consistent differentiation from its significant Others, as outlined by Triandafyllidou. Swedish rule created cultural and linguistic hierarchies that initiated nationalist resistance through the Fennomania movement. Whereas Russia emerged as a far more threatening external Other whose military aggression solidified Finnish narratives of resilience, independence, and democratic self-definition. These examples of both Sweden and Russia, illustrate how Finnish identity was developed into literary and political sophistication as well as autonomous and culturally self-aware. Finland’s national identity has been historically constructed into a sense of belonging, defined by shared language, values, and survival against the odds. They determined for themselves who belongs to the national community and who does not.

References:

USA CIA. (2025). World Factbook, Finland. Cia.gov. https://web.archive.org/web/20251229134251/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/finland/

Mäkinen, I. (2016). View of FOUND IN TRANSLATIONS: J.V. SNELLMAN’S (1806–1881) THOUGHTS ON TRANSLATIONS AS A WAY TO STRENGTHEN THE FINNISH NATIONAL LITERATURE | Knygotyra. Zurnalai.vu.lt. https://www.zurnalai.vu.lt/knygotyra/en/article/view/10017/7874

Pelo, J. (2020, May 24). Grand Duchy of Finland, 1809 -1917 - Swedish Finn Historical Society. Swedish Finn Historical Society. https://www.swedishfinnhistoricalsociety.org/2020/05/24/grand-duchy-of-finland-1809-1917/

Reese, R. R. (2008). Shibboleth Authentication Request. Oclc.org. https://muse-jhu-edu.seattleu.idm.oclc.org/article/241169

Triandafyllidou, A. (2003). Immigrants and National Identity in Europe. Routledge.