Finland |
Sweden |
Finnish-Swedish relations have a long history, due to the close relationship between Finland and Sweden. Particularly in Finland, the issue emerges in frequent exposés of Finnish history, and in motives for governmental proposals and actions as reported in Finnish news broadcasts in English or other foreign languages. In Sweden, this relationship is a recurrent important theme of 20th-century history, although maybe by most Swedes considered to be an issue of purely historical relevance now that both countries have been members of the European Union since 1995.
Because the area that later became Finland was annexed by Sweden during the 13th century and was ruled by Swedish monarchs up until 1809, Sweden was by the Finns often seen as suppressive party in their relationship, especially with regard to the status of the Finnish language. Finland was a fully integrated part of the Swedish realm and legally the Finns had the same rights and duties as all citizens. But the language used in administration and education was Swedish. During the 20th century, after Finland's 1917 freedom from Russian rule, much of the governmental administration and higher education was conducted according to old tradition in disproportionate amounts in Swedish.
During World War II Sweden, a neutral country in the conflict, supported Finland's cause to a certain but limited amount, including over 8,000 volunteers. After the war Sweden had a clear head-start in the post-war economical development, much due to its neutrality in the war, making the Finnish-Swedish relationship similar to that of Finland and Estonia of today since the 1990s. Since the mid 1990's, the inequalities between Finland and Sweden can be seen as balanced, and the relations between the two countries be seen as equal and good.
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