2025/12/05 by Jussi P. Laine · 1 voice
Social Sciences · #Cross-Border Cooperation and Integration #European Cultural and National Identity #Land Use and Management
paper · pdf · doi:10.1080/25739638.2025.2599342
openalex created_date 2025/12/05 · openalex publication_date 2025/12/05 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has profoundly altered Finland’s security environment and prompted a historic shift in its strategic orientation. Long defined by military non-alignment and pragmatic relations with Russia, Finland applied for NATO membership in May 2022 and formally joined the Alliance in April 2023. This rapid realignment reflects not only the urgency of the new geopolitical era but also policy learning from Ukraine’s resilience in the face of aggression. The Finnish case demonstrates how borderland states interpret and adapt lessons from Ukraine, particularly the importance of readiness, societal cohesion, and international cooperation. At the same time, Finland’s transformation is accompanied by heightened border anxiety, securitization of Russia/ns, and the disruption of its traditional identity as a neutral state. Employing an ontological security perspective, this article argues that Finland’s strategic shift can be understood both as a pragmatic response to external threat and as an attempt to restore a coherent geopolitical narrative disrupted by war. The analysis contributes to debates on resilience, policy learning, and the evolving security order in Europe, highlighting the broader significance of Finland’s reorientation for NATO, the EU, and Europe’s eastern borderlands.