Almost in Europe? How Finland's Embarrassing Entry into Eureka Captured Policy Change. (9th June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: MITZNER, VEERA
• Is Part Of: Contemporary European history. Volume 25:Number 3(2016:Aug.)
• Page Start: 481
• Page End: 504
• Publication Date: 2016-06-09
• Subjects: Europe -- History -- 1945- -- Periodicals; 940.5
• DOI: 10.1017/S0960777316000230
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-7773

Abstract

Abstract: Common historical narratives of Finnish European policy emphasise the sudden and dramatic change of 1991–1995, when Finland, as a reaction to the collapse of the Soviet Union, rejected its previously cautious approach and wholeheartedly embraced the goal of joining a unified Europe. This article, however, shows that, already in the mid-1980s, the Finnish political and economic elites questioned the country's position in the Cold War order and took bold steps in order to forge closer relations with Western Europe. A key event was the struggle for membership in Eureka, a novel European project designed to enhance cooperation in high technology.