Reconceptualizing Finlandization: Fear, Autonomy, Economic, and Cultural Dimensions

초록

Despite extensive prior debates related to Finlandization, this concept has not yet been assiduously investigated as a generalizable International Relations (IR) theory. The concept has been capaciously applied throughout the world in regions where its theoretical fit has not been empirically proven. As such, and for the purpose of examination, this study first postulates Finlandization as an ‘accommodation strategy’ which is marked by low fear and autonomous neutrality as its two key attributes. Moreover, by applying Most Similar System Design (MSSD) between Finland and Estonia, the success of Finlandization is demonstrated as having four amenable dimensions. These dimensions are (i) geographic worth, (ii) historical ties to war memories, (iii) government identities, and (iv) cultural identity. Despite Finland’s recent accession into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), this study contends that the greatest threat to the survival of Finlandization is dictatorial leaders who seek territorial expansion through militarism. The outcome of this study further argues that the application of Finlandization through reconceptualization is brittle, yet still evolving as a viable IR theory. © 2024 The Korean Journal of International Studies.

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