The Finns are getting ready to see off Putin – here’s why it’s so important

 If Vladimir Putin was to turn his attention to Finland then be warned: the Finns are prepared. 

While visiting Helsinki, Big Issue was given the opportunity to meet Petteri Korvala, the secretary general of Finland’s Security Committee. Korvala’s job, working alongside representatives from across Finnish society and public bodies, is to keep Finland safe. 

But that involves far more than just rallying the troops. Finland has a comprehensive security strategy that sees the vital functions of society protected by authorities, businesses, organisations and even down to individual citizens. The message is clear: it takes everyone to keep society safe. 

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The origins of this model are perhaps not a surprise. Finland has been an independent nation for much less time than the UK and secured independence from Russia in 1917. 

The Finns began building their security system after World War II amid fears about the military threat from the Soviet Union. 

“We had to find a way to use the limited resources of the society to support the use of military forces defending the country,” said Korvala in reference to the initial total defence phase of the strategy. 

That focus continued during the Cold War era before Finland started broadening the scope of its security, moving to a comprehensive security system after 2013. 

There are 56 strategic tasks related to keeping Finland secure. How many tasks relate to defence and the military? Just two. 

Maintaining public order, ensuring border security and preparing for cyber-security, biological, radiation and chemical threats all feature as you may expect. 

But the security committee considers things like social security securing income as important to the security of the nation. Proper housing is on the list as is combatting social exclusion and inequality.  

These aren’t considered luxuries or ambitions; they are regarded as vital to how society functions. 

Can the British interpretation of this system keep up with the Finns? Not currently, says King’s College London’s Thomas Woolmore. 

In Britain, with a long-running housing crisis, vast inequality and a benefits system failing to keep people above the poverty line, the consequences of failing to address these issues are clear. 

“The Finnish government is acutely aware that the population must be inspired by, and take pride in, the society that currently exists if they are to defend it willingly,” said Woolmore in his study. 

“It is not possible to construct robust public participation and defensive will, while simultaneously removing the societal structures necessary for establishing greater national unity and belonging.” 

Read more:

• Russia is ‘a threat to the whole world’, warns Ukrainian war hero: ‘Do not let the world forget’
• Why homelessness is rising in Finland – and what Britain can learn
• Housing First promised to be a silver bullet to solve homelessness. Why are we still waiting?  

Boosting society comes down to trust and Finns trust public bodies far more than Brits do. 

The most recent OECD public trust survey found 47% of Finnish people reported high or moderately high trust in the national government, above the average of 39%. By comparison, just 27% of Brits trust the national government. 

Part of that trust is built on Finns’ transparency.  

National defence courses have been running on national and regional levels since the 1960s, introducing the country’s security and defence policies to different sectors of society. More than 80,000 Finns have taken part in the last 60 years. 

Participation is key to building trust in Finnish society too.  

National service is mandatory for men between 18 and 60 and voluntary for women. It can be either military training and puts the person into the Finnish Defence Forces’ reserves until they are 50 for rank and file or 60 if they are officers. Or it can be completed in the civil service lasting 165, 255 or 347 days. 

“What is extremely important is to increase the level of trust among the participants and to strengthen the networks, which is extremely important in a small country like Finland,” said Korvala.  

There is plenty of interest in how the Finns do things, particularly with the ongoing war in Ukraine and Finland joining NATO in 2023. 

The eight people who make up the secretariat of the security committee have briefed other nations and partners 133 times this year alone, said Korvala. Britain is among them. 

It’s not just an abstract concept. It factors into every part of Finnish society, even down to something like learning how to forage for food in the woods at school. 

Korvala even believes that comprehensive security makes Finns happier, particularly at a time when the threat of war remains ever-present. 

“The comprehensive security concept is the foundation of the resilience of Finnish society,” he said. 

“I see the link between happiness. Eight times in a row, Finland has been selected as the happiest nation in the world. I’m not sure if it is a question of happiness or if, looking at it from a security perspective, are we happy or more satisfied? That is my question. 

“My hypothesis is that the Finnish population is satisfied with how well we are running these functions for society, which are key activities in our citizens’ daily lives.” 

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