Finland – 100 Years of Independence












            ******************************************************************************************

            * Finland – 100 Years of Independence
            ******************************************************************************************
            The Finns achieved independence in the end of the year 1917. Prior to that, starting in 18

            independence, Finland formed a grand duchy in the Russian Empire. Before 1809, the area th
            had been under Swedish rule since at least the 13th century. In 2017 the nation celebrates
            with numerous events in Finland and all around the world. The Faculty of Arts of Charles U

            Embassy of Finland in Prague hosted a keynote lecture by Professor Laura Kolbe, with the p
            Helena Tuuri, the Ambassador of Finland to the Czech Republic, on November 10, 2017.


            Laura Kolbe is a professor of European history at the University of Helsinki. She is also 
            Council member. Kolbe earned her M.A. in history at the University of Helsinki and in 1989

            her Ph.D. Her thesis, Kulosaari – A Dream of a Better Future (1988) dealt with early subur
            Helsinki compared to other Scandinavian capitals, London, and Berlin. From 1983 to 1991 Ko
            a curator for Mannerheim Museum in Helsinki and she is a member in the governing body of t

            1994 Kolbe was appointed Senior Lecturer at the University of Helsinki, teaching urban, so
            history as well as the history of ideas.
            In Laura Kolbe’s illuminating seminar offered in Prague under the title "Finland 100 - Myt

            in the Building of a Nation 1907-2017" the noted lecturer gave context to the country’s ce
            being celebrated this year. The talk was held in the beautiful Hybernská building of Charl
            the exclusive talk held the audience captivated for ninety minutes.

            Dr. Kolbe described Finland’s position in 19th century Europe. From the year 1809 Finland 
            autonomous grand duchy in the Russian Empire. This proved to be an important time for layi
            and administrative groundwork that allowed the Finns to break with Russia in 1917. In the 

            Revolution in Petrograd made many Finnish people question their place under the rule of Ru
            October Revolution challenged this idea anew. The Finnish right wing activists decided to 
            free of the crumbling Russian rule and declared Finland an independent state on the 6th of

            This was the beginning of the independent Finland we know today.
            The following decade saw a great deal of turmoil, with a Civil War, a brief introduction o
            monarchy and tense relations with the Russians over the borders. Dr. Kolbe succinctly desc

            political upheaval with incredible insight. She went into particular detail on the subject
            economy during the 20th century – their precarious relationship with the Soviet Union deve
            mutual trade agreements while still staying a member of the Western European market econom

            pro-Soviet economic policies bolstered their economy and in the post war period of the 197
            Finnish government built one of the largest welfare states in the world. The economic hard
            due to a number of recessions lead to immigration from the country, but due in part to the

            European Union and a technological boom in the early 21st century Finland has more than re
            The parallels with the Czech Republic’s upcoming centenary (1918-2018) are uncanny and it 
            examine the development of both European nations first century as an independent country. 

            have found themselves under Russian (Soviet) rule and/or influence, albeit at differing ti
            different ideologies. Both countries now find themselves celebrating their centenary of in
            pondering how the last century has shaped their people, and how to further prosper as self

            nations. The questions raised by Dr. Kolbe were fascinating and left much room for reflect
            Czechs and Finns.