Finland’s Response to Unauthorized Aircraft Entering Its Airspace

On Monday evening, the airports of the capitals of Norway and Denmark – Oslo and Kopenhagen, respectively – were temporarily closed due to drones being flown nearby. It is clear that the drones were not flown by accident, but deliberately. Therefore, it was not hobbyists, but some actor or actors who wanted to cause disturbances.

Personally, I suspect it was the same party that shortly before had flown its fighter jets into Estonian airspace and its drones into Polish airspace. That is why this incident must be taken very seriously.

* * *

Norway also announced today that Russia has violated its airspace three times during the spring and summer. Two of the aircraft that entered the airspace without authorization were fighter jets, while the third was a small transport or passenger plane, mainly operated by Aeroflot.

According to Norway’s foreign minister, “if Russia deliberately challenges the airspace of multiple countries, this is extremely serious.” This is a view worth sharing, but at the same time it should be noted that even the most temperate cat may scratch if provoked enough – and it would be highly irresponsible if the aforementioned party were to cross NATO countries’ threshold of irritation.  

* * *

Today, information was published in Finland about how the country has prepared for the appearance of unauthorized aircraft crossing the border. Such an event cannot go unnoticed, as Finnish airspace is monitored by radar around the clock, and practically all incoming flying objects near Finland’s borders are detected well in advance.

If there is a risk that a device approaching the border might enter Finnish airspace without permission, Finnish fighter jets are dispatched. As the violations of Estonian airspace have shown, this does not take long. For example, Finnish jets arrived faster than the Italian ones, which took off from Estonia itself.

If Finnish airspace is actually violated, radio contact is first attempted with the intruding aircraft, if possible. If that fails, a fighter jet flies alongside the foreign aircraft to get the pilot’s attention, for example by rocking its wings. In addition, the intruder can be warned by firing flares, which demonstrates readiness to use weapons and makes clear that the fighter is armed.

In peacetime, a manned aircraft is only fired upon if authorization is given by the national leadership. However, this does not need to be awaited if a Finnish fighter itself comes under fire, or if the intruding aircraft uses its weapons against another Finnish target. In such cases, the pilot has the right to destroy the aircraft that has crossed the border at their own discretion.

Unmanned aerial vehicles, however, are always shot down immediately if they cross into Finnish airspace. Therefore, long drone flights from across the border, such as those seen in Poland, are not possible in Finland.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Russia’s Aging MiG Fleet vs. Finland’s Modern Air Power
Responding to Russia’s Challenges Is Essential
Did a Finnish Fighter Jet Rush to Intercept a Russian Sukhoi Yesterday?

Palestine’s Statehood and International Law

Many European states have recognized or are in the process of recognizing the State of Palestine. Finland is not among these countries but is instead waiting to see how the situation develops, together with, among others, the USA, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

This is reasonable in the sense that, from the perspective of international law, the existence of a state requires four basic elements – a permanent population, clearly defined borders, a functioning government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states. Of these conditions, especially the second, third, and fourth are not met, so a rational person would sooner question the logic of the states that have recognized Palestine than that of the states that have chosen to wait.

Therefore, Palestine should be recognized as a state only when – or if – it one day fulfills all four conditions. In the meantime, every country – regardless of its stance on recognizing Palestine – can act in support of a just peace between Jews and Arabs living in the region.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
When Should the Independence of Palestine Be Recognized?
An Unexpected Endorsement of Professor’s Views
Abu Obaida’s Death Brings Palestine One Step Closer to Peace

Is Immigration Driving the Nordic Countries Apart?

The bigger Nordic countries – Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland – are generally seen as a highly unified group of states, where democratic decision-making works exceptionally well. At the same time, however, they have undergone major demographic changes as a result of humanitarian immigration, which will likely have a significant impact on their future.

Sweden, as a former great power, is the largest Nordic country, governed by the local EPP together with a smaller EPP party and a liberal RE party. The government is also supported in parliament by an ECR party outside the coalition, whose immigration policy goals have been included in the government program.

This unusual arrangement stems from the fact that Sweden’s immigration policy has been extremely liberal, which has made the country’s population more multicultural than in the other Nordic countries. At the same time, the related challenges have also been greater.

This is reflected in the support for Swedish parties. The largest party in the country is still the Social Democrats (S&D group in the European Parliament), with around 34% support, but a party belonging to the ECR group that is critical of multiculturalism has risen to compete with the EPP for second place, with about 20% support. The country’s other parties are small.

Denmark is currently governed by a three-party coalition consisting of the Social Democrats (S&D) and two RE parties.

Unlike in the other Nordic countries, Denmark’s S&D has long pursued a strict immigration policy, which has reduced immigration-related problems. This helped their support rise a few years ago to very high levels – even around 35% – but in recent years it has dropped to about 20%. Despite this, the party remains clearly the most popular in the country.

Denmark’s second most popular party has been the Greens (G/EFA), with support around 15%. They are followed slightly behind by the RE-affiliated Venstre party, and behind them an ECR party at about 10%, which is slightly higher than the Danish PfE group, whose support has risen significantly this year. In addition, a large number of smaller parties influence Danish politics, including the smallest RE party in government.

In Norway, the country is currently governed by a minority government of the local S&D party, but parliamentary elections are being held today and tomorrow, after which a new government will likely be formed.

Humanitarian immigration in Norway has been more limited, and thus the related problems have been smaller than in Sweden. Nevertheless, the local ECR group has in recent years competed for the position of the country’s largest party alongside the S&D and the EPP. Meanwhile, the far left (SV) has lost support.

In my home country of Finland, the government is formed by two EPP parties, an ECR party, and an RE party representing the interests of the Swedish-speaking population. The government has pursued a strict economic policy driven by the larger EPP party, while also following the relatively strict immigration policy demanded by the ECR party in its government program.

During the current parliamentary term, the support for Finland’s EPP parties and the language-based party has remained relatively stable (around 20%, 3%, and 4%, respectively). By contrast, the Finns Party’s support collapsed under government responsibility, falling from around 20% in the 2023 elections to about half of that, though in recent months it has started to rise again.

Among the opposition parties, support has grown for the S&D party, which has risen to 26%, making it clearly Finland’s most popular party at the moment. Another recent gainer has been the former agrarian party (around 15%), which for some reason belongs to the RE group in the European Parliament. Meanwhile, the Greens’ support has long been in decline (8%), while the far-left party belonging to the LEFT group has remained fairly stable in 10%.

As this brief overview of Nordic politics shows, there are significant political differences among these countries regarding immigration. It remains to be seen how these differences develop in the future – and especially whether Sweden’s long-standing open immigration policy will lead it to diverge from the other Nordic countries.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
No Low-Hanging Fruits Among Russian Neighbors
Nordic Police Announce: Spread of Gang Violence Cannot Be Stopped
Nordic Nations Unite Against the Growing Threat of Cross-Border Organized Crime

EU Commission Should Take Migration and Related Crime Seriously

A Finnish district court has sentenced Kerime Örcel, 30, and Johan Araf Josef Otterdahl, 22, to long prison terms in a criminal case involving the manufacture of a thermos bomb and aggravated drug offenses. In a press conference, the police stated they suspect the planned bombing attack was commissioned by a Swedish criminal organization.

Otterdahl had agreed to detonate the thermos bomb at the entrance of an apartment building in an immigrant-dominated suburb in the Helsinki region and had received the assignment from a Swedish criminal group, which had promised him a reward for carrying out the act. The bomb had a lethal blast radius of approximately three meters and could have caused shrapnel injuries within an 11-meter range.

Örcel was apprehended at the end of September when she transported 157 kilograms of amphetamines and 20,000 ecstasy tablets across the border into Finland. This is the largest single amphetamine seizure in Finnish criminal history. Otterdahl, on the other hand, was arrested later in the autumn.

* * *

The above case is just one example of how the problems of Swedish society are also spreading to Finland as immigrant-background criminals expand their territory across the Baltic Sea. So far, the Finnish police have succeeded quite well in preventing larger problems, but time will tell how long this can continue.

That is why it is important that Swedes also take their problems seriously and prevent them from spreading across the Baltic. Toward Denmark, however, it is already too late, as Swedish criminals now move rather freely across the Danish straits to commit crimes (example).

All of this also demonstrates that the migration-related problems faced by European countries are by no means local, and therefore cannot be resolved solely through local measures. That is why the EU Commission and politicians should take migration into Europe and the related crime seriously—unlike what has happened in recent years.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Getting Populists to Govern Responsibly: What the Netherlands and Finland Can Teach Us
Police to Finnish Graduates: Leave Fireworks, Blades, and Booze at Home
Why Integration Policy Must Confront Cultural Conflicts

Finland and the USA: Strong Allies with Shared Interests or a Trade Dispute?

Finland has always had excellent relations with the USA. As a sign of this, President Alexander Stubb has refrained from criticizing Donald Trump’s administration and has instead sought to understand its actions—even to the extent that some have speculated he is overly deferential to it.

There is, of course, an excellent explanation for Stubb’s and Finland’s approach: as a neighbor of Russia—and following the era of Finlandization, when the country had to be cautious in its dealings with the Soviet Union—Finland is now heavily dependent on NATO and, consequently, the USA to guarantee its military security. Nevertheless, Finland will remain a state governed by the rule of law, firmly committed to defending the inviolability of national borders against all major powers. This applies to Denmark as well.

In this context, it is extremely unfortunate that President Trump is threatening the EU—and, by extension, Finland—with trade tariffs that would hinder transatlantic commerce. Such measures would be particularly harmful to open economies like Finland’s, whose prosperity relies heavily on foreign trade. It would not be beneficial for the United States either, as it could negatively impact the very positive attitude that Finns generally have toward Americans.

It remains to be seen whether Trump and his administration understand this and seek to balance trade between the USA and the EU through other means. Moreover, in the end, high US tariffs would be paid by ordinary American voters, which is unlikely to increase Trump’s popularity in his own country.

After all, there are plenty of people in the US who struggle to cover their daily expenses. And they certainly did not vote for Trump so that he would plunge their personal finances into even greater hardship.

* * *

Finally, I would like to share a message with my American readers from my country’s Minister for Foreign Trade, Wille Rydman (Finns Party). At the end of last week, he made the following remarks:

"The United States has been focused on utilizing Alaska’s mineral resources. Here, Finland’s world-class geological expertise can offer significant contributions. The U.S. plans for Alaska have also emphasized the development of basic infrastructure, particularly in telecommunications, an area where Finland has strong capabilities."

"The U.S. has also prioritized improving its situational awareness in the Arctic. There is room for development in sensor technology, measurement and monitoring systems, and the utilization of space technology. Finland has expertise in all these fields."

"We are working to open markets through ICE Pact cooperation, which could allow Finnish shipyards to contribute their capacity to icebreaker construction. North America faces a shortage of shipbuilding capacity, making this a fantastic opportunity for our shipyards... We have the knowledge and capability to build the best icebreakers quickly and at a competitive price. Finnish maritime industry companies have supplied icebreaking technology for the most powerful polar icebreakers, Baltic Sea escort icebreakers, as well as smaller river and port icebreakers. Our expertise is extensive, and the industry operates on a global scale."

I sincerely hope that these considerations reach President Trump’s administration and encourage it to foster cooperation between Finland and the EU—natural allies of the United States—rather than risk a trade war that would harm all parties involved.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Trump’s Tariff Weapon Worked, but Will Finland’s Development Aid Strategy Succeed?
Putin, Trump, and the Prospect of Peace
Greenland's Future: A Battleground of Global Powers?

Greenland's Future: A Battleground of Global Powers?

The future president of the United States, Donald Trump, has threatened either to buy Greenland from Denmark or even to seize it by military force. The latter threat, in particular, does not sound like something a leader of a friendly nation would say.

This has also drawn attention in the European Union. For example, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that it is clear the EU will not allow any country, whoever they may be, to violate its sovereign borders.

Such discussions among NATO allies obviously serve only one purpose: to advance the goals of Russia and China against the Western world. Therefore, it must be asked whether Trump fails to grasp the implications of his words or if he is genuinely under the influence of China and/or Russia.

However, I am not sure which scenario would be worse—a foolish president of a Western superpower or a puppet of states hostile to the West. For this reason, I hope that Trump’s words will ultimately turn out to be nothing more than empty bluster.

* * *

Greenland’s status as part of Denmark is not necessarily straightforward, as the island's Prime Minister, Múte B. Egede, also addressed the matter in his New Year’s speech. According to him, it is time for the island to “break the chains of colonialism” and take responsibility for its own future.

Considering that Greenland has vast natural resources but fewer than 60,000 inhabitants, I do not find this comment particularly wise. Not because those people couldn’t live well on their island, but because as an independent nation, it would be both highly attractive and defenseless.

It is therefore obvious that, in addition to the United States, both China and Russia would be extremely interested in bringing Greenland into their sphere of influence. For this reason, the Greenlandic Prime Minister’s comment must also be regarded as unequivocally foolish—especially in today’s world, where it seems a new Cold War has begun.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Will Trump Push Ukraine Toward Peace by Breaking U.S. Promise?
Former President Donald Trump is Also the Upcoming President – But What Does It Mean?
Medieval trade ranged from North America to Ukraine

The Need for Asylum Among Syrians Disappeared with the Regime Change

The power transition in Syria reportedly occurred partly with the help provided by Ukraine. According to available information, Ukraine had sent in advance 20 drone operators and 150 FPV drones to the rebel organization that took power.

If and when this information proves to be accurate, it highlights the vastly different scale of warfare in Ukraine compared to Syria. In Ukraine, 150 drones have almost no significant impact on the overall course of the war.

From the perspective of Western countries, one of the biggest questions regarding Syria's regime change concerns refugees. After all, they have primarily fled either Assad's regime or the ISIS caliphate, neither of which now plays a significant role in Syria.

For this reason, Finland and many other countries have already suspended the processing of asylum applications from Syrians, as it is apparent that those who fled Assad's regime or ISIS and came here no longer require asylum. Logically, this should mean that even those previously granted asylum would be returned to their country of origin.

Denmark has already promised a €20,000 package for Syrians who return to their homeland. This is logical, as Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen does not want even a single asylum seeker in her country.

On the other hand, Turkey’s three million Syrians have not needed to be incentivized to return to their homeland; even too many of them have already rushed to the border. It remains to be seen whether the rest will follow in the near future.

This, in turn, depends on what kind of role Syria’s new administration takes. Will it adopt a constructive role and unite the nation, or will it prove too weak to prevent rebellions by other factions operating in Syria? Naturally, our hope in the West is for the Syrian people to unify and for the state to develop into a functioning human rights state and democracy.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
On the Consequences of Russian Inability in Syria
Revolution in Syria: What Comes Next?
The Futile Civil War in Syria

Nordic Police Announce: Spread of Gang Violence Cannot Be Stopped

The Nordic countries—Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland—have traditionally been seen as civilized, peaceful, and safe places to live. That’s why it was surprising to read that Nordic police organizations are struggling to keep up with the gang violence that started in Sweden.

According to a statement from these organizations, police forces are no longer able to respond to or prevent the spread of gang violence, which is becoming a problem across the entire Nordic region. This statement has been signed by police organizations from Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland.

It’s worth asking, then, who is responsible for letting the situation reach this point. This particularly concerns Sweden’s immigration policy, which has resulted in the formation of gangs and even dozens of areas where fire trucks and ambulances will not go without police protection.

In addition to identifying who is to blame, it’s essential to determine how these gangs can be brought under control despite police concerns. After all, it’s clear that criminals cannot be allowed to gain the upper hand in this matter, as this would mean that the Nordic countries, known for their equality, would become a mere memory of how politicians, who once aimed to improve the world, ended up destroying societies that provided the best quality of life in the world.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Managing Societal Change with a Growing Muslim Population
Sweden's Gang Crime Recruits Children – Is It Time for the EU to Reevaluate Asylum Policies?
Sweden's Rapid Demographic Shift Causes Challenges

Nordic Nations Unite Against the Growing Threat of Cross-Border Organized Crime

Organized crime, which primarily seeks financial gain through drug trafficking, has become an increasing problem in the Nordic countries. It no longer respects national borders but instead spreads from one country to another. For these reasons, during the Nordic Council meeting in Reykjavik, Iceland, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland announced that they would strengthen their cooperation to combat organized crime.

According to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, "In Norway, we can see parts of these networks coming from Sweden in all of our police districts. We must fight them together. When crime begins to cross borders, the police, government, and judicial systems must also engage in cross-border cooperation."

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also highlighted the organized crime coming across the border from Sweden, stating, "We cannot accept this. We are working closely with Sweden to address this issue."

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo likewise described gang crime and cross-border crime as a serious problem. He cited the cooperation between Finnish and Swedish police in the northern Baltic region as a good example of cross-border collaboration.

The roots of Nordic gang crime are in Sweden—likely because Sweden has practiced an even more generous immigration policy than the other Nordic countries. Only time will tell, however, whether the Nordic countries will succeed in reversing this trend or whether they will gradually transform into more closed societies in which people's basic security is slowly eroded.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Finland’s Minister of Finance Believes Not All Cultures Are Equally Good
Immigration-Specific Violent Crime Increases as Humanitarian Immigration Continues
Sweden's Gang Crime Recruits Children – Is It Time for the EU to Reevaluate Asylum Policies?

Sweden's Gang Crime Recruits Children – Is It Time for the EU to Reevaluate Asylum Policies?

Members of the "Nattvandrarna" association in Sweden have told Sweden's TV4 that, with the increase in gang-related crime among children and young people, even eight-year-old children have been recruited for shady activities. And 12-year-old children wear bulletproof vests, saying that "it's much easier to be shot in the head because then you die instantly."

The recruitment of children happens in such a way that older gang members make contact with them and try to be friendly, for example, by offering them treats. Once the connection is established, the children are given simple tasks, such as whistling if the police or another perceived threat to the criminals approaches. This way, for example, drug dealers can disappear from the scene and avoid getting caught.

Naturally, those working with the Nattvandrarna association are concerned about the situation and have tried to draw politicians' attention to it, for example by inviting them to join them on the streets. However, the success has been minimal, with decision-makers at best merely writing worried statements.

* * *

Sweden's southern neighbor, Denmark, has tightened border controls at their shared border because Swedish gang crime has also spilled over there. The country's Deputy Chief of Police has reported that Swedish youths have been lured across the border to commit murders.

According to him, one can earn 100,000 crowns for killing someone in Denmark. However, according to Denmark's TV2, the amount is somewhere between 300,000 and 500,000 Swedish crowns, which is equivalent to tens of thousands of euros. It’s a cheap price for a human life, but an enormous amount of money for a child from an immigrant family that has failed to integrate.

* * *

All of this is public knowledge. Despite this, people who have proven to be poorly integrated are still allowed to seek asylum in Western countries. For example, in Finland, the principle is still followed that asylum is granted unless the authorities can prove that the application is based on false grounds. In other words, the asylum seeker does not have to prove that they are under threat in their home country; it is enough to credibly claim that this is the case.

Such a practice is pure foolishness and leads to difficulties like those that have occurred in Sweden. This is evidenced by the fact that in the Swedish-speaking Åland Islands, which are part of Finland, there has been a continuous influx of Swedes in recent years.

As a result, the proportion of residents born in Sweden in the region has already risen to ten percent. These people openly state that security concerns were one of the main reasons for their move.

So, the question is whether Finns and citizens of other EU countries should do something about it before it is too late. Like changing their interpretation of the Geneva Refugee Convention or reducing the kinds of incentives that have led to mass immigration of people who are poorly integrated into society - the latter being included in the action plan of the current Finnish Government.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Swedish TV Did Not Learn Anything From the Riots in the UK
Sweden's Rapid Demographic Shift Causes Challenges
Finland to Tighten Asylum Legislation and Reduce Undocumented Residents

Swedish TV Did Not Learn Anything From the Riots in the UK

According to Swedish TV, crimes committed by young people are causing headaches for authorities in Sweden and Denmark. According to the Danish Minister of Justice, the most important thing is to "prevent the exploitation of Swedish child soldiers in crimes on the Danish side."

This is understandable, as Danish police have arrested several Swedes in recent days. Two Swedes in their twenties were arrested on the Swedish side of the Öresund Bridge because they were suspected of involvement in an explosion in Copenhagen.

A 17-year-old Swedish teenager was also imprisoned on suspicion of attempted murder in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen. The victim of the gun crime was 18 years old. Additionally, 16- and 17-year-old Swedish youths have been imprisoned on suspicion of involvement in two recent shootings that occurred in Nørrebro, Copenhagen, and in Kolding.

As a result of all this, Swedish and Danish police have intensified their cooperation. It is not impossible that border controls between the two countries may be reintroduced, despite having been abolished on Nordic borders decades ago.

Based on all this, it seems that something has significantly changed in Sweden, in particular. However, large-scale immigration from developing countries was not mentioned in the Swedish TV news, so I won’t mention it either, even though, like everyone else in the Nordic countries, I know that it is almost certainly the underlying cause of the events we are now witnessing.

It seems that nothing has been learned in Sweden from the violence in Northern England, where - according to the media at least - disinformation related to the stabber's ethnic-religious identity played a significant role in triggering the events. This false information spread because the authorities failed to disclose immediately the truth about the actual background of the Rwandan-born murderer in the island nation.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Sweden's Rapid Demographic Shift Causes Challenges
Immigration issue
Even a brutal murder didn't stir the Swedes

Violent demographic changes in Denmark

People are well aware that after Europeans discovered America, they displaced indigenous populations, especially in North America, within a few centuries. A similar development was seen in Australia and New Zealand.

These facts are sometimes referenced in discussions about the migration of people from developing countries to Europe, with claims that it will alter the entire demographic structure of the region.

On the other hand, this view is vehemently denied, especially within political leftist circles, and dismissed as a product of imagination. However, the fact remains that, for instance, in Sweden, the number of people arriving from developing countries has grown to such an extent that the government faces challenges in maintaining order in many residential areas.

In connection with this, it was interesting to read a study that investigated prehistoric changes in the population structure of Denmark. The study describes a genetic analysis conducted on ancient human remains spanning 7 300 years, including the Mesolithic, Neolithic, and Early Bronze Age.

The researchers used shotgun-sequenced genomes from 100 skeletons and integrated the genetic data with information on diet, mobility, and vegetation cover. As a result, they showed that Mesolithic individuals in Denmark formed a distinct genetic cluster related to other Western European hunter-gatherers and exhibited genetic homogeneity from around 10 500 to 5 900 years ago.

The arrival of Neolithic farmers with Anatolian-derived ancestry occurred around 5 900 years ago, causing a significant population turnover. This transition was abrupt, with limited genetic contribution from local hunter-gatherers, and therefore probably violent.

The Neolithic population associated with the Funnel Beaker culture persisted for approximately 1 000 years until immigrants with eastern Steppe-derived ancestry arrived, causing another rapid population replacement. This gave rise to the Single Grave culture, whose ancestry profile was more similar to present-day Danes.

Therefore, it is clear that population replacements in North America, Australia, or New Zealand are not unique in history. Rather, it seems that the influx of people to a particular region easily leads to the destruction of entire population groups. Hence, this alternative should not be dismissed with a mere shrug but rather taken into account when planning and implementing European immigration policies.

Previous thoughts on the same topic: Finnish women have enjoyed a privileged position since medieval times Attitudes towards immigrants are not becoming more positive in Western countries People with Middle Eastern and North African inheritance identify themselves as non-Whites

History of Finland VII: The dictator of the era of Enlightenment promoted capitalist economy

This is the seventh part of a blog post series where I go through the most significant periods in the history of Finland. In the sixth post, I described how the military state of the Swedish kingdom, which had fallen into a shortage of men and an economic crisis, led to liberal economic reforms that resulted in a long-term growth trend in the state's economy and the standard of living of its people.

During this period, the state was characterized by a democracy of Estates, where lower-class people had more power than ever since the Middle Ages. However, Sweden faced an unexpected turn when King Gustav III, who had adopted the ideas of the Enlightenment, seized power in 1772 with the support of the officer corps, France, and the high aristocracy.

However, the coup d'état did not stop the growth of wealth among the lower classes and the resulting increase in political influence. Therefore, the king faced difficulties with the lower nobility, clergy, and peasants.

To solve this, Gustav III resorted to an ancient method by initiating a war of aggression first against Russia and later against Denmark. The latter resulted in a clear victory, which gave Gustav the momentum to push a new constitution through.

As a result, the king's support base changed from the nobility to the bourgeoisie and the peasants. This was because although the king gained a lot of power, the imposition of new taxes was still subject to the approval of the Assembly of the Estates, and the lower two estates also had the opportunity to influence it.

At the same time, the people's, i.e. the peasants', ownership of their land was strengthened, and even the children of the Crown's tenant farmers were able to become legal inheritors of their farms, which increased the purchasing of inherited estates. This way, the people became even more committed to their land and, as their ownership rights were reinforced, also to promoting their own economy. The entire kingdom benefited from this economic activity.

The legal system also progressed with the establishment of the Supreme Court, the banning of torture, and the mitigation of sentences. The development of the justice system, along with the crucial economic reform of allowing factory privileges for ordinary people, promoted the capitalist economic system and created unprecedented prosperity in the kingdom.

On the other hand, the growth of new tax-exempt noble lands was completely prohibited. The abolishment of the Council of State, a symbol of the old rulers' defeat, was another change, although the highest positions were still reserved for the nobility. However, they too were required to have education for their duties.

At this stage, Sweden's rule in Finland also ended when Russia took control of the eastern part of the state as a side-show of the Napoleonic Wars. However, this did not change the fact that Finland was rapidly moving towards a society based on competence and economic activity, where the significance of birth and special privileges was disappearing.

The original blog post in Finnish: Valistusajan diktaattori edisti kapitalistista taloutta

All the blog posts in this series:
History of Finland I: How did Finland become culturally part of the West?
History of Finland II: From a hinterland of the Union into a modern state
History of Finland III: The legal and economic weakening of the position of the people
History of Finland IV: The bleakest time in Finnish history
History of Finland V: The pursuit of economic profit saved the country
History of Finland VI: Age of freedom and utility
History of Finland VII: The dictator of the era of Enlightenment promoted capitalist economy
History of Finland VIII: Joining of Finland to Russia led to an increase in crime
History of Finland IX: Enlightended dictator initiated economic growth
History of Finland X: The birth of Finnish identity
History of Finland XI: Finnish democracy and gender equality for women
History of Finland XII: Bloody civil war
History of Finland XIII: The far-right's rebellion
History of Finland XIV: The end of the first Finnish Republic
History of Finland XV: Paasikivi-Kekkonen doctrine
History of Finland XVI: Through rise and fall to a new kind of future

History of Finland II: From a hinterland of the Union into a modern state

This is the second part of a blog post series where I go through the significant phases of Finland's history. In the first post, I described how Finland (or actually its densely populated southern and western parts) became a part of Sweden, which inevitably connected our country to the development of the Western world.

During the Middle Ages, the Nordic countries formed the Kalmar Union, in which power gradually shifted to the union king - that is, the Danes. For Finland - and at the same time for all Nordic countries - it was crucial that Gustav Vasa's successful rebellion restored Sweden's independence from external forces, as it was important for the future development of the region.

This was accomplished with the support of the free town of Lübeck, which belonged to the Hanseatic League that dominated Baltic Sea trade. Of course, this support had to be repaid, and the only way to do so was by stealing the property of the wealthy Catholic Church that had prospered during the Middle Ages - a justification provided by the Protestant Reformation.

Later, Gustav made Sweden even more independent from Lübeck by severing its umbilical cord with the city through an alliance with Denmark and the Netherlands, and by defeating the free city in a war with their help. As a result, Sweden - and as a part of it, Finland - withdrew from the nearly monopolistic foreign trade advantages previously demanded and obtained by the Hanseatic city.

In order to enable all of these achievements and to increase his power, Gustav Vasa had to develop a functioning central administration in Sweden, complete with tax-collecting bailiffs and written commands. Trade was directed under the control of the central government through the steeple town system, which also enriched the king's personal wealth and the kingdom itself.

Gustav Vasa also changed the justice system so that the law courts shifted towards seeking out and punishing the guilty parties. The previous practice of seeking reconciliation between the warring parties - and their families - was left in the background.

Through these actions, the new taxation and legal practices, as well as the weakening grip of the Church on power, led to the king's strong position. Beneath Gustav Vasa, there were only his servants and loyal subjects. In support of this power, the king also created a standing army, the maintenance of which required taxes e.g. money.

The importance of a monetary economy grew throughout the entire kingdom, which helped to enhance the position of the nobility who cultivated large estates and the merchants who engaged in trade, in relation to the rest of the population. This raised the nobility and the wealthy bourgeoisie of the cities above the common people.

Overall, as a result of Gustaf Vasa's actions, a modern or at least pre-modern state led by the king was established and strengthened, which was able to steer the entire kingdom in the desired direction. At the same time, the living conditions of ordinary people declined for the next two centuries - this happened both in Sweden and Finland.

The original blog post in Finnish:
Suomen tie unionin takamaasta osaksi modernia valtiota

All the blog posts in this series:
History of Finland I: How did Finland become culturally part of the West?
History of Finland II: From a hinterland of the Union into a modern state
History of Finland III: The legal and economic weakening of the position of the people
History of Finland IV: The bleakest time in Finnish history
History of Finland V: The pursuit of economic profit saved the country
History of Finland VI: Age of freedom and utility
History of Finland VII: The dictator of the era of Enlightenment promoted capitalist economy
History of Finland VIII: Joining of Finland to Russia led to an increase in crime
History of Finland IX: Enlightended dictator initiated economic growth
History of Finland X: The birth of Finnish identity
History of Finland XI: Finnish democracy and gender equality for women
History of Finland XII: Bloody civil war
History of Finland XIII: The far-right's rebellion
History of Finland XIV: The end of the first Finnish Republic
History of Finland XV: Paasikivi-Kekkonen doctrine
History of Finland XVI: Through rise and fall to a new kind of future

Does China prove the superiority of market economy?

The economy and standard of living in China was ruined by the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution ordered by the Chairman Mao in 1960´s. After the death of the Chairman, the economic direction was changed in China towards the current system, where communistic dictatorship is combined with a market economy. 

That has led to great progress in the most populous country of the world. And now the statistics tell the Gross National Income of China is soon going to reach a level of $12 000 per capita. 

That means Chinese people are reaching the level of citizens of Costa Rica or Venezuela and has already passed over e.g. Russians, Malaysians, Bulgarians or Turkish. And even the standard of living in countries like Chile, Uruguay or Hungary will be reached in the next ten years - provided that the growth rate of China corresponds to the development of the last twenty years.

At the same time, China has become the second biggest economy in the world - and the difference to USA is narrowing quickly. The difference in GDI per capita between the two is, however, about sixfold - and therefore it very clear that the difference in the welfare of the two biggest economies of the world will be huge for decades. 

Taken the facts above, it is very clear that even a communistic rule may produce economic welfare despite the horrific examples provided by the Soviet Union or - more recently - Venezuela. The key to that is, however, to give up on the economic principles of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels - and definitely avoiding Leninism as a means to apply their ideas. 

Instead it might be worth noting that the example provided by Xi Jinpin´s China seems to prove the superiority of market economy over socialism. And it drives me to consider, if more strict market economy should be preferred over the milder versions of socialism - such as Nordic social democracy? 

After all, considering other aspects usually thought to advance economy are excellent in the Nordic countries. The freedom of speech is among the best in the world, democracy is challenged in no ways and people are highly educated. Despite those facts, their economies have become more or less stagnated (Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway) during the last decade or so, according to GNI.

For me, these notions will be of extreme interest in the becoming years. And therefore I intend to follow future developments in the Chinese economy - and make conclusions about the contributions of market economy and social democracy by comparing future developments in China and the Nordic countries. 

Previous thought on the same topic:
The main consequence of Putin´s attack to Ukraine
Once upon a time in China and Taiwan
Could China take advantage on the weakness of Putin´s Russia?

Soil subsides under cities, but every cloud has a silver lining

In a recent scientific publication it was noticed that in most of the coastal cities around the world part of the land is subsiding even more quickly than a sea level is rising. Therefore it can be expected that these cities will be challenged by flooding much sooner than the current sea level rise models predict. 

The problem is most serious in South, Southeast, and East Asia, but the phenomenon is also observed in North America, Europe, Africa, and Australia. The main driving force for this subsidence is groundwater extraction.

I live in Finland, and here the soil - including that under the coastal towns - is rising due to a return from a subsidence that occurred during the last ice age. The problem, however, will also affect our life, as the Baltic sea is connected to other seas via Danish straits, and the land there is subsidizing even without human contribution. 

The outcome of this development will be higher rate of water change between the Baltic sea and Oceans. It will have the following two consequences. 

First. The sea water will become more salty than today, which probably affects also the fauna and flora of the unique brackish water ecosystem along our coasts. And as the level of the Baltic sea uniqueness - i.e. exceptional salinity - will be reduced, it will become even more receiving for all kinds of alien species dispersed by human actions, especially via ballast waters from ships sailing between different geographical areas.

This will worsen the biodiversity problem, which already now is considerable. According to this report, around 140 non-indigenous species or new species with unknown origin have been recorded in the Baltic Sea. And as easily understood, the situation cannot be fixed as eradication of non-indigenous species is not a viable management option for a whole sea.  

Second. The deep waters of Baltic sea are largely suffering of hypoxia, i.e. lack of oxygen. Its ultimate cause is an excess nutrient loading from human activities and in summertime its effects are visible as algal blooms. These blooms sink to the bottom and overuse the available oxygen, which leads to mortality of bottom-living organisms, and ultimately creates dead zones.

The situation is partially regenerative, as in some years more salty water from Oceans enter to the Baltic sea, and due to its heaviness compared to the brackish water, sink down to the bottoms. There it pushes the oxygen-free bottom water upwards and reoxidizes the deep sea basins. 

Now, if water change via the Danish straits increases due to the climatic change and land subsidence, also the area of deep basins suffering from hypoxia will reduce. That will ultimately lead to decrease in algal blooms, which currently considerably reduce the recreational value of the marine nature along the coasts of Finland and other Baltic sea countries. 

Taken together, the sea level rise expected due to the predicted climate change and land subsidence, as well as other human actions, can be expected to have negative effects to the nature of the Baltic sea, but  probably increase the recreational value of the sea to humans. 

For such a situation, we have a proverb in Finnish: "ei niin pahaa, ettei jotain hyvääkin". That means "not so bad, that there would not be something good", or to express that with an English proverb: "every cloud has a silver lining".

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Measurements of arctic temperatures and sea ice area agree with each other
World Resources Institute had an arrogant demand

The Danish government proposed reforms for immigration policy

The government of Denmark proposed two reforms for their immigration policy. According to the first one, the asylum seekers with criminal behavior should be placed in a dormitory to be built in a small island of Lindholm until they leave the country.

What en excellent proposal!

And therefore it is not surprising that I have also proposed a similar refuge for my country (unfortunately the text can only be read in Finnish or translated by Google translator, which is not doing very well with Finnish). However, in my proposal I suggested that also those, who are not in a need for asylum could be placed there - even if they have not been guilty for any crime.

The second proposal by the Danish government is even better. It states that refugees - who have a true need for asylum - would be asked to sign an agreement to leave the country immediately after the problems in their home has calmed down. 

This should actually be self evident, as humanitarian refugees are not migrants seeking for job, but people who are escaping problems in their homes. However, it is clear that those of them, who have integrated to their new home so well that they are able to sustain their own life by working, should have a possibility to apply for a residence permit based on that.

Although the proposals by the Danish government are excellent, there is one big problem associated with it. That is the lack of a parliament and government in Finland, that would execute similar policy as proposed for Denmark. The unfortunate fact is that there is only one political movement in Finland - the True Finns with about ten percent support among voters - which is along the same lines as the government of Denmark.

The original Professor´s thought in Finnish:
Tanskan hallitus esittää maahanmuuttoon uudistuksia