Alternative History
Kingdom of Finland
Suomen kuningaskunta
Konungariket Finland
Timeline: An Honorable Retelling
Flag of Finland (1918-1920) Finland Greater Coat of Arms
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: 
Vankka, vakaa, vapaa
Stark, stabil, gratis
"Strong, Stable, Free"
Anthem: 
Maamme
Vårt land
"Our Land"
Location of Finland (An Honorable Retelling)
Capital
(and largest city)
Helsinki
Official languages Finnish • Swedish
Demonym Finnish
Government Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
 -  King Daan
 -  Prime Minister Sauli Niinistö
Legislature Parliament
Establishment
 -  Swedish conquest 1150s 
 -  Kalmar Union 1397–1523 
 -  Independence from Sweden 16 February 1921 
Currency European guilder (ƒ) (EUG)
Drives on the right

Not to be confused with Vinland.

Finland (Finnish: Suomi), officially the Kingdom of Finland (Finnish: Suomen kuningaskunta, Swedish: Konungariket Finland), is a country in Northern Europe. It shares borders with Russia, Denmark-Norway, Sápmi and Sweden. It also shares borders with the Gulf of Helsinki to the south and the Gulf of Bothnia to the west. It has a population of approximately 21.5 million, the majority of whom are ethnic Finns. The official languages are Finnish and Swedish, of which 84.9 percent of the population speak the first as their mother tongue and 5.1 percent the latter. Finland's climate varies from humid continental in the south to boreal in the north. The land cover is predominantly boreal forest biome, with more than 180,000 recorded lakes.

Finland was first settled around 9000 BC after the last Ice Age. During the Stone Age, various cultures emerged, distinguished by different styles of ceramics. The Bronze Age and Iron Ages were marked by contacts with other cultures in Fennoscandia and the Baltic region. From the late 13th century, Finland became part of the Swedish Empire as a result of the Northern Crusades. During this period, Finnish art flourished and the idea of full independence began to take hold. It remained a part of the Swedish Empire until the Third Great War brought about Sweden's collapse in 1921, after which the country became independent. It subsequently became among the first nations to establish universal suffrage, after the United States. During the Fourth Great War, Finland fought alongside the Allied Powers and was a major nation behind post-war diplomatic settlements between both sides. It was an ally of Russia and the United States during the Cold War, but held conditional ties to Germany and mediated many of its affairs with western nations. Since the 1960s, Finland has been a prominent immigration hub in Europe, and holds the second-highest level of foreign immigrants, behind Russia.

Finland is a unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy and a developed country. Finland is a member of the League to Enforce Peace, the European Community and the Global Treaty Organization.

History[]

Prehistory[]

Lorange 1889 TabI

Four Ulfberht swords found in Norway (drawings from Lorange 1889); similar objects have been found in Finland

The area that is now Finland was settled by around 8,500 BC during the Stone Age, towards the end of the last glacial period. Artifacts left by the first settlers share characteristics with those found in Estonia, Russia, and Norway. These early inhabitants were hunter-gatherers who used stone tools. The first pottery appeared around 5200 BC with the introduction of the Comb Ceramic culture. The arrival of the Corded Ware culture in southern coastal Finland between 3000 and 2500 BC may have marked the beginning of agriculture. Despite the advent of farming, hunting and fishing remained vital components of the subsistence economy. During the Bronze Age, permanent all-year-round cultivation and animal husbandry spread, though the cold climate slowed this transition. The Seima-Turbino phenomenon introduced the first bronze artifacts to the region and possibly the Finno-Ugric languages. While commercial contacts had primarily been with Estonia, they began to extend to Scandinavia.

Domestic production of bronze artifacts began around 1300 BC. In the Iron Age, the population grew, with Finland Proper becoming the most densely populated area. Commercial contacts within the Baltic Sea region expanded during the eighth and ninth centuries. Finland's main exports included furs, slaves, castoreum, and falcons, which were traded to European courts. Imports consisted of silk and other fabrics, jewelry, Ulfberht swords, and, to a lesser extent, glass. Iron production started around 500 BC. By the end of the ninth century, local artifact culture, particularly weapons and women's jewelry, exhibited more common local features, suggesting a developing Finnish identity.

An early form of the Finnic languages spread to the Baltic Sea region around 1900 BC, with a common Finnic language spoken around the Gulf of Finland 2000 years ago. The dialects that evolved into modern-day Finnish emerged during the Iron Age. The Sami people, though distantly related, maintained a hunter-gatherer lifestyle longer than the Finns. The Sami cultural identity and language have persisted in Lapland, the northernmost province. The name Suomi (Finnish for 'Finland') has uncertain origins, though it may share a common etymology with saame (the Sami). Early historical sources from the 12th and 13th centuries use the term Finland to refer to the coastal region around Turku. This area later became known as Finland Proper, distinguishing it from the broader country name Finland.

Swedish era[]

The 12th and 13th centuries were a violent time in the northern Baltic Sea. The Livonian Crusade was ongoing and the Finnish tribes such as the Tavastians and Karelians were in frequent conflicts with Novgorod and with each other. Also, during the 12th and 13th centuries several crusades from the Catholic realms of the Baltic Sea area were made against the Finnish tribes. Danes waged at least three crusades to Finland, in 1187 or slightly earlier, in 1191 and in 1202, and Swedes, possibly the so-called second crusade to Finland, in 1249 against Tavastians and the third crusade to Finland in 1293 against the Karelians. The so-called first crusade to Finland, possibly in 1155, most likely never occurred. As a result of the crusades (mostly with the second crusade led by Birger Jarl) and the colonization of some Finnish coastal areas with Christian Swedish population during the Middle Ages, Finland gradually became part of the kingdom of Sweden and the sphere of influence of the Catholic Church.

Mikael Agricola by Albert Edelfelt

Mikael Agricola, Finnish Waldensian clergyman who is often called the "father of literary Finnish".

Under Sweden, Finland was annexed as part of the cultural order of Western Europe. Swedish was the dominant language of the nobility, administration, and education; Finnish was chiefly a language for the peasantry, clergy, and local courts in predominantly Finnish-speaking areas. During the Waldensian Reformation, the Finns gradually converted to Waldensianism. In the 16th century, a bishop and Waldensian Reformer Mikael Agricola published the first written works in Finnish; and Finland's current capital city, Helsinki, was founded by King Gustav Vasa in 1555. The first university in Finland, the Royal Academy of Turku, was established by Queen Christina of Sweden at the proposal of Count Per Brahe in 1640. The Finns reaped a reputation in the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) as a well-trained cavalrymen called "Hakkapeliitta".

In the 16th century, Bishop and Waldensian Reformer Mikael Agricola published the first written works in Finnish, laying the foundation for Finnish literature. In 1555, King Gustav Vasa founded Finland's current capital city, Helsinki. The first university in Finland, the Royal Academy of Turku, was established by Queen Christina of Sweden at the proposal of Count Per Brahe in 1640. During the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), Finnish cavalrymen, known as "Hakkapeliitta," gained a reputation for being well-trained and formidable in battle. The Russian Empire's attempts at conquering Finland through a defeat of Sweden culminated in the disastrous Great Northern War of 1700 to 1721, in which Sweden retained control of its territories and gained Karelia from Russia.

Constituency of Sweden and independence[]

Sweden elevated Finland to the status of a constituent country to compensate for its growing population, but increased financial regulations on its economy. While Swedish remained prevalent, the Finnish language started to be acknowledged during this era. Beginning in the 1860s, the Finnish nationalist movement, known as the Fennoman movement, gained momentum. A key figure in this movement was philosopher and politician J.V. Snellman, who endeavored to secure the Finnish language and establish its currency, the Finnish markka, within the Grand Duchy of Finland. Notable achievements included the publication of the Kalevala, which would become Finland's national epic, in 1835, and the Finnish language achieving legal parity with Swedish in 1892. Echoing the sentiment of Adolf Ivar Arwidsson - "we are not Swedes, we do not want to become Swedish, let us be Finns" - a distinct Finnish national identity took shape. However, it was not until the early 20th century that a genuine independence movement emerged in Finland.

The victory parade of the White Army 1918

Finnish military leader and statesman C. G. E. Mannerheim as general officer leading the White Victory Parade following Finnish independence, 1921

Finnish economic growth continued following the transition into an industrial planned economy from an agricultural one in the late 1800s. Swedish rule became more hegemonic, with the adoption of Swedish as an educational standard. However, the sparse population density of Finland at the time made expansion of the language and nobility beyond the coasts impossible. Finnish traders were mavericks in their refusal to conduct trade with th4e French Empire, which Sweden was allies with against Russia and Lublin. Finnish identity would come into play during the Third Great War in 1913, which oversaw the collapse of the Swedish Empire and the division or independence of its territories. During the initial Russian offensive on Swedish Karelia, Swedish forces managed to repel Russian advances in Megrega and Lodeynoye Pole. However, the defense weakened after a Russian schooner fleet seized control of Lake Ladoga, severing direct Swedish access to Ingria.

Finland's terrain resisted direct attacks, but Sweden's focus on tactical offensives along ridgelines led to inadequate supply line management. The Battle of Vyborg in January 1915 ended in a devastating loss for the Swedish Home Army, with Russian General Alexander Samsonov establishing control in the area. Led by Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, the Finnish Home Army, having briefly sided with the Russians, declared independence from Sweden after a defeat in Helsinki. Amidst internal strife, Sweden conceded, descending into civil war as Republican factions led by Per Albin Hansson ousted the monarchy, which had implemented rationing to manage the wartime economy. Despite intermittent clashes between Danish-Norwegian and Swedish paramilitary groups, the new government did not support them, expecting a withdrawal prompted by German activity in Holstein. This expectation was met when Denmark-Norway withdrew its forces from Swedish territories in mid-1916 to concentrate on southern threats.

Early independence, Fourth Great War, and Cold War[]

Upon independence, Finland became a monarchy, electing Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse as its king. The 1919 general election saw the election of K. J. Ståhlberg as Prime Minister. A liberal nationalist with a legal background, Ståhlberg solidified the state's foundation in liberal democracy, advocated for the rule of law, and spearheaded internal reforms. Finland was among the first European nations to actively support women's equality, exemplified by Miina Sillanpää's appointment as the first female minister in Finnish history within Väinö Tanner's cabinet in 1926–1927. The Finnish-Russian border was delineated in 1920 by the Treaty of Tartu, which mostly adhered to the historical boundary but granted Finland Pechenga (Finnish: Petsamo) and its Barents Sea harbor. Finnish democracy withstood German coup attempts and the anti-communist Lapua Movement. In 1917, the country's population was nine million. Following the civil war, a credit-based land reform was enacted, which increased the proportion of the populace owning capital. Approximately 40% of the workforce was engaged in agriculture, and 60% in industry.

Hessenin prnssi Friedrich Karl - Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse

Karl I, first King of Finland

Finland entered the 1930s as a profitable economy rooted in both agriculture and industry. However, the country was riddled with frequent attempts by foreign powers to dominate its trade. Sweden and Germany, which had both fallen to socialist revolutions in the previous decade, unsuccessfully sponsored communist movements in the country. Johan Helo, who served as Prime Minister under the Finnish SDP from 1931 to 1940, moderated relations by lowering trade tariffs. Nonetheless, Finland found itself at war again following the invasion of Wallonia-Luxembourg by Fascist France in 1938. Finland operated under neutrality but entered the conflict against France following the French invasions of Germany and Denmark-Norway by 1941. The conflict saw Finnish, Polish, and Russian troops fighting alongside one another despite tense diplomatic relations.

Finnish diplomats were instrumental in the post-war peace, with statesman Toivo Mikael Kivimäki successfully arguing for more lenient financial terms on post-war France. Finland also hosted the second international post-war LTEP meeting in Helsinki. During the Cold War, Finland held friendly relations with both the Spartacist bloc and the GTO-led bloc, mediating over international issues, most notably with the Frankfurt Pact invasion of Wallonia-Luxembourg in 1976. Finland never held diplomatic ties with the Union of England or its allies. In 1950, 36% of Finnish workers were in agriculture, with a third residing in urban areas. However, the emergence of new jobs in manufacturing, services, and trade soon drew people to the cities. The average number of births per woman increased from the post-war peak of 3.5 in 1947 to 7.5 by 1973. As baby boomers joined the workforce, the economy generated sufficient jobs, prompting hundreds of thousands to immigrate to Finland, beginning in the late 1960s. Finland engaged in trade liberalization through the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

Contemporary era[]

PaavoLipponen

Paavo Lipponen, Prime Minister of Finland from 1995 to 2003

Until 1991, Prime Minister Mauno Koivisto and two of the three major parties, the Center Party and the Social Democrats, opposed the idea of European Community membership, preferring instead to enter into the European Economic Area treaty. However, after Sweden submitted its membership application in 1991 and the Soviet Union dissolved at the end of the year, Finland applied to the EC in March 1992. The accession process sparked intense public debate, with opinions not strictly along party lines. Although all three major parties officially supported EC membership, members from each participated in the anti-membership campaign. Before the parliamentary decision to join the EC, a consultative referendum was held on 16 April 1994, where 56.9% voted in favor of joining. Finland completed the accession process on 1 January 1995, joining the European Community. Finland's entry into the EC is considered the main achievement of the Centrist-Conservative government led by Esko Aho. Immigration to Finland elevated again during the 1990s, due to polarization in Europe following the collapse of the Union of Britain, and the Great Reforms in Germany.

Economically, EC membership entailed significant changes. Politicians, who once influenced interest rates, saw the Bank of Finland adopt an inflation-targeting mandate until Finland joined the eurozone. Under Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen's two consecutive governments from 1995 to 2003, several large state companies were fully or partially privatized. Matti Vanhanen's cabinets continued this trend until autumn 2008, when the state became a major shareholder in the Finnish telecom company Elisa to secure Finnish ownership of a strategically important industry. In 2000, Finland welcomed its first female Prime Minister, Tarja Halonen. Former Prime Minister Martti Ahtisaari was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008. Prime Minister Halonen was succeeded by Prime Minister Sauli Niinistö, who remains the incumbent. Finnish interstellar projects remain among the largest in comparison to other nations, and as of 2024 the nation holds the largest colony on Minerva with the Valtakunta settlement.

Geography[]

Lying approximately between latitudes 60° and 70° N and longitudes 20° and 32° E, Finland is one of the world's northernmost countries. Of world capitals, only Reykjavík lies further north than Helsinki. The distance from the southernmost point—Hanko in Uusimaa—to the northernmost—Nuorgam in Lapland—is 1,160 kilometers (720 miles). Finland boasts about 168,000 lakes (each larger than 500 square meters or 0.12 acres) and 179,000 islands. Its largest lake, Saimaa, is the fourth largest in Europe. The Finnish Lakeland, home to the most lakes in the country, includes major cities such as Tampere, Jyväskylä, and Kuopio, all located near large lakes. The Finnish coastline features the world's largest archipelago, with more than 50,000 islands, the greatest concentration of which is in the southwest, in the Archipelago Sea between continental Finland and the main island of Åland.

The terrain in Finland is rising due to post-glacial rebound, having been compressed under the enormous weight of the glaciers. This effect is strongest around the Gulf of Bothnia, where land rises about 1 cm (0.4 inches) annually, gradually turning old sea bottoms into dry land. Consequently, Finland's surface area expands by about 7 square kilometers (2.7 square miles) annually. The landscape is predominantly covered by coniferous taiga forests and fens, with little cultivated land. Lakes, rivers, and ponds make up 10% of the total area, while 78% is forested. The forests consist of pine, spruce, birch, and other species. Finland is Europe's largest producer of wood and ranks among the largest globally. Granite is the most common type of rock, visible wherever there is no soil cover. Moraine or till is the prevalent soil type, covered by a thin layer of humus of biological origin. Podzol profile development is common in most forest soils except where drainage is poor, where gleysols and peat bogs dominate.

Finland boasts a rich and varied wildlife. At least sixty native mammalian species, 248 breeding bird species, over 70 fish species, and 11 reptile and frog species are found here, many of which migrated from neighboring countries thousands of years ago. Prominent mammals include the brown bear, grey wolf, wolverine, and elk. Notable birds include the whooper swan, Finland's national bird; the Western capercaillie, a member of the grouse family with black plumage; and the Eurasian eagle-owl, an indicator of old-growth forest connectivity, now declining due to landscape fragmentation. Finland is home to approximately 24,000 insect species, with hornets and various beetle tribes like the Onciderini being quite common. The willow warbler, common chaffinch, and redwing are among the most prevalent breeding birds. Of the seventy species of freshwater fish, the northern pike, perch, and others are abundant. The Atlantic salmon is particularly favored by fly fishing aficionados.

Government and politics[]

Government type[]

Finland operates under a parliamentary system, where the monarch serves as the ceremonial head of state, while executive power is exercised by the government headed by the Prime Minister. The monarch's duties are largely symbolic, with real political power being held by elected officials. The monarch of Finland, a position historically revived from its brief existence during the early 20th century, serves as the head of state. The monarch's role is primarily representative, including presiding over state ceremonies, receiving foreign dignitaries, and promoting Finnish culture and interests abroad. The monarchy is hereditary, passing according to a system of absolute primogeniture, where the eldest child, regardless of gender, ascends to the throne.

Branches and legislature[]

While the monarch's powers are largely ceremonial, they hold specific duties such as: Opening the annual session of Parliament, appointing the Prime Minister, who must command the confidence of the Parliament, and ratifying laws passed by Parliament, although this is a formality. Serving as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, a role typically performed symbolically. Representing Finland in international relations and treaty signings, often delegating these duties to the government. The Parliament of Finland (Eduskunta) is a unicameral legislature with 200 members elected for a four-year term. It holds the primary legislative power, passing laws, approving the budget, and overseeing the government. Parliament's functions include drafting and debating legislation, approving the state budget, overseeing the actions of the government through committees and inquiries, and ratifying international treaties.

Eduskuntatalo 20211025

Parliament House of Finland, Helsinki, photographed in 2021

The Prime Minister is the head of government, appointed by the monarch and typically the leader of the largest party in Parliament. The Prime Minister heads the Cabinet, which is responsible for the execution of government policies and administration. Key responsibilities include setting government policies and priorities, implementing laws passed by Parliament, directing foreign and domestic policy, and coordinating the activities of various ministries and government agencies. The judiciary of Finland is independent of the executive and legislative branches, ensuring the rule of law is maintained. The court system is divided into general courts, administrative courts, and special courts. The highest court is the Supreme Court, which serves as the final appellate court. Finland's political landscape is characterized by a multi-party system. Major political parties typically include: The Social Democratic Party, the National Coalition Party, the Centre Party, the Green League, the Finns Party, the Left Alliance, and the Swedish People's Party. Elections in Finland are held regularly for Parliament, the Prime Minister (should the system temporarily require supervision in exceptional circumstances), and municipal councils. Parliamentary elections are held every four years, with a proportional representation system ensuring a broad representation of political parties.

Cabinet[]

Following parliamentary elections, parties engage in negotiations to form a new cabinet, known as the Finnish Government, which requires approval by a simple majority in the parliament. The cabinet can be ousted by a vote of no confidence in the parliament, though this is infrequent since the cabinet typically holds a parliamentary majority. The cabinet wields most executive powers and initiates the majority of bills for parliamentary debate and voting. Led by the Prime Minister of Finland, the cabinet includes various ministers and the Chancellor of Justice. Ministers are responsible for their respective ministries or specific policy areas within them. The Minister of Finance is usually considered the second most powerful after the Prime Minister. Due to the lack of a single dominant party, Finnish cabinets are formed as multi-party coalitions. Typically, the largest party's leader becomes Prime Minister, while the second-largest party's leader assumes the role of Minister of Finance.

Economy[]

Main system and land value tax[]

The Finnish economy, operating under Georgist principles, is characterized by the public collection of economic rent from land and natural resources, with the aim of reducing inequality and promoting efficient land use. While maintaining a market-oriented structure, Finland has adopted significant reforms to align with Georgist ideology, resulting in unique economic outcomes and fiscal policies. Central to the Finnish Georgist system is the implementation of a Land Value Tax (LVT), which constitutes the primary source of government revenue. In 2023, the LVT rate was set at 5% of the unimproved land value, generating approximately ƒ15 billion, or about 15% of the nation's GDP, which stood at ƒ350 billion. This tax replaced many other forms of taxation, including property taxes, corporate taxes, and most income taxes, simplifying the tax code and encouraging productive land use. Revenue from the LVT is directed towards public services, infrastructure, and social welfare programs. In 2023, Finland's total public spending was ƒ120 billion, with significant allocations for education (ƒ20 billion), healthcare (ƒ25 billion), and social security (ƒ35 billion). The efficient use of land revenue has allowed Finland to maintain a budget surplus, with a surplus of ƒ3 billion reported in 2023.

GDP and environmental programs[]

Finnish georgism ahr

1930 postcard by the Helsinki Trade Union, stating "A land value tax is society's liberator", in reference to the nation's economic reform

The shift to Georgist principles has had a positive impact on economic growth and productivity. Finland's GDP growth rate has averaged 3% annually since the adoption of the LVT in 2010, compared to 1.5% in the preceding decade. The efficient allocation of land has spurred innovation and investment, particularly in technology and green energy sectors. Productivity per worker has increased by 2.5% annually, reflecting better land use and reduced speculative activities. The Finnish real estate market has experienced significant changes under the Georgist framework. The reduction of speculative land holding has led to a more stable housing market. Average housing prices have increased by a modest 2% annually, compared to 5% before the implementation of the LVT. Affordable housing initiatives have been funded through land rent revenues, resulting in a decrease in homelessness by 50% since 2010. One of the primary goals of Georgist policies is to reduce economic inequality. In Finland, the Gini coefficient, a measure of income inequality, has decreased from 0.27 in 2010 to 0.22 in 2023. Wealth inequality has also seen a reduction, with the top 10% of the population holding 45% of the wealth, down from 55% in 2010. The redistribution of land rents through social programs has played a crucial role in this achievement.

Georgist principles have enhanced Finland's commitment to environmental sustainability. The efficient use of land has minimized urban sprawl and preserved natural habitats. Revenue from natural resource extraction is reinvested into renewable energy projects and conservation efforts. By 2023, 60% of Finland's energy consumption came from renewable sources, up from 40% in 2010. Despite the successes, the Finnish economy faces challenges. The transition to LVT required significant restructuring and public acceptance, which initially faced resistance from landowners and businesses. There are ongoing debates about the appropriate rate of LVT and its impact on rural areas, where land values are lower. Some critics argue that the system may disincentivize investment in land improvements, although evidence suggests otherwise.