Mietzekotze / photocase.com

Looking east from Finland at a time of the year when it is almost daylight all night as well. Seen from the rest of Europe, the border might seem remote but the differences it demarcates are at the heart of European conflicts

Finnish Letter

Dear Rita,

It's very nice and interesting to write this letter to you. You probably already know that many Finnish people have quite negative attitude to Russia. The main reason is that most people don't know much about your country, but our common history, politics and stereotypes also play a big role.

Iina komonen is 19 years old, studies education at the University of Lapland. Won third prize in a Finnish history competition and took part in the Eustory Youth Academy in Spain in 2009. She enjoys cross country skiing and skiing races.

Well, first I would like to ask how well you know what happened in the Second World War 1939-1945? I have heard that Russian people don't study this war against Finland very carefully. Is it true? We call the first fighting in 1939-1940 the Winter War. It was so unfair that big Russia (called the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics at that time) attacked the small country of Finland. This war is the most important historical reason for people's anger. We survived, but Russia took the Karelian area by force. Here is the map in this letter - you can see we also lost other areas. Finnish people are still angry because of that. Their attitude is heritage from their parents and grandparents who have lived during the war. Both of my grandparents had to leave their home in beautiful Karelia because of the war, but I'm not bitter. Nobody can change what happened in the past.

I have to admit that Finish people think that our country is much better than Russia. It's due to stereotypes. Many people know only bad things about your country. Also, in my opinion there are many problems with crime, pollution, poverty and politics. Corruption is very strange thing for us. We can't understand how people can accept that there are so many flaws in your democracy and that there is such a big difference between rich and poor people. I mean it seems to us that democracy isn't working completely. What do you think?

But I also know good things about Russia. I know many Russian people and they are very nice and friendly. I have visited Russia and I think the coast of Lake Ladoga is a very beautiful place. I loved the islands and nature. I also like Russian folk music and dance. I'm really impressed by people who can dance the Trepak. I have tried and it's not easy. It would be nice to visit in St. Petersburg and see all the wonderful buildings. Many Finnish people don't know about these aspects of Russia. And I'm sure you would have much more to show me. Finnish people have just always thought that it's difficult to go to Russia because there are always problems at the border.

Wikimedia Commons

Orange marks the areas we lost after the war.

We are also worried about our countryside and our summer cottages. These days so many rich Russian people want to buy summer cottages in Finland. The sellers raise the prices so high that normal Finnish people don't have the money to buy them, but rich Russians do. I have heard that some people believe the Russians are trying to buy Finland little by little, but I don't think so. But I agree that raising the prices is unfair. Some Finnish people find it irritating that Russians come to spend their holidays in Finland, specially the winter holidays. Some spa hotels can be full of Russians and they take over the shops during the sales after Christmas. But that happens mainly in eastern Finland, and I think people feel irritated because they don't understand the Russian language and Russian culture, for example your eating traditions.

Luckily people's attitudes have improved. And now it's easier to travel by train or ship to Russia. That's good. I wish that Finnish people would like to find out more about Russian culture.

Best wishes

Iina Komonen

Russian Answer

Dear Iina,

Thank you very much for your letter. Your description of the Russian image which is widespread in Finland astounds me, so I am eager to share some of my thoughts with you.
First of all, I'd like to touch upon the issue of the Soviet-Finnish war. Although properly studied in schools, this war is not often recalled in private talks, because too many soldiers died due to severe weather conditions and scanty provisions, while too little was gained. Nevertheless, the majority of Russians believe that the war was reasonable and that historical facts proved this. If the Soviet-Finnish border hadn't been redrawn in 1940, Leningrad would have been razed to the ground because of its location near the border. As for Finland, it supported the Nazi aggression against the USSR and according to its president Ryti's statement, wasn't interested in saving Leningrad as a city either. I understand that nothing was easy and the Finns were just trying to solve a difficult political situation, but the memories of the Leningrad siege and concentration camps will remain long in the Russians' minds.

But let's turn over this page, with the past which cannot be changed, and think about the present. When it comes to democracy, the Scandinavian countries are no doubt an example for the others. Nevertheless, compared to Russia they didn't have either to play a key role in international relations in a bipolar world or to face a lot of economic and social upheaval in the last decades. To put it in a nutshell, they developed in different circumstances, and consequently their and Russia's political systems differ. Whether one system is better than the other or not is a disputable question which cannot be solved by nations with totally different mentalities. It crossed my mind that we have different attitudes even to matters of casual politeness. Whereas the Finns don't reveal having any problems, the Russians regard this as boasting or being heartless. It's common to complain in Russia, which perhaps seems ill-mannered to the Finns. That's why we probably do not understand each other when talking about the situations in our countries, too.

Margarita Rudnik studies International Relations at MGIMO university, Moscow. She won a prize in a national research competition in 2008 and participated in the Eustory academy in Berlin. Rita considers revisions of history unacceptable, but thinks that reconsideration is crucial for confidence building and mutual understanding between today's nations.

The situation with summer cottages is very awkward. On the one hand, I can imagine how irritating it could be to see hordes of sometimes impolite foreigners followed by an increase in prices for real estate. On the other hand, it's a market economy and no one can forbid the agents to sell or wealthy people to buy. Frankly speaking, the idea of Finland being slowly bought is quite funny to hear. Actually, Russia has vast under-populated territories.

As regards the presence of the Russians in Finland, I've heard of quite a few positive effects. To begin with, you can compare the territory of Finland conquered from Sweden in 1809 and of Finland when it got independence from Russia in 1917. Then the National Library of Finland with its great collection appeared because of Nikolay I's initiative. And last but not least, the Finnish language was officially recognised in Finland thanks to the Russian Emperor.

However, I admit there could be prejudices, and there are some in Russia about the Finns, too. For instance, many St. Petersburg citizens don't have a friendly attitude towards them, because a lot of Finns come to have fun on weekends and often get drunk. I'm sure it is not typical of Finns to drink a lot, but that's how things stand.

All in all, as the saying goes, if we could see ourselves as others see us, we would probably change our views. I hope, we both have much to think over and maybe change our minds. So, my dear neighbour, thank you once again for your letter.

Sincerely yours,

Margarita Rudnik