Finland in NATO Perspectives on Strategy

Foreword, Christopher Cavoli  Introduction: Why Finland Matters, Tommi Koivula, Matti Puranen and Antti Seppo  PART I: Finland’s Changing Regional Strategic Context  Chapter 1: A Pragmatic Approach: Historical Insights into Finnish Defence and Political Turning Points, Petteri Jouko  Chapter 2: Strategic Cultural Adaptation and Change in Finland, Antti Seppo  Chapter 3: Nordic, Baltic or Part of the High North? Considerations on Finland’s Geostrategic Position as a NATO Member State, Tommi Koivula and Heljä Ossa  Chapter 4: From Survival to Deterrence: Military Strategic Thinking in Finland, Petteri Kajanmaa  Chapter 5: The (R)evolution in Finnish Deterrence, Jan Hanska  PART II: Finland and Great Power Competition  Chapter 6: Continuity and Change in Finnish Multilateralism, Post-2022, Hanna Ojanen  Chapter 7: The Evolution and Significance of Finnish–US Defence Cooperation, Kimmo Kaipainen  Chapter 8: Sweden, Norway and the UK as Finland’s Allies, Antti Pihlajamaa and Oscar Lassenius  Chapter 9: Finnish–Russian Relations Before and after Finland’s NATO Membership: The Management of Enduring Dilemmas, Sinikukka Saari  Chapter 10: “New Factors”: Finland’s China Relations in the Era of Great Power Competition, Matti Puranen  PART III: The Finnish Model of Security in Turbulent Times  Chapter 11: The Role of Comprehensive Security as Part of Deterrence in NATO Finland, Christian Perheentupa  Chapter 12: Finnish Conscription and Willingness to Defend as Strategic Assets, Teemu Häkkinen and Miina Kaarkoski  Chapter 13: Borders Under Uncertainty: Finland’s Hybrid Security Model in the NATO Era, Minna Jokela  Chapter 14: Still a Valued Instrument? Allied Finland and International Crisis Management, Katariina Mustasilta  Chapter 15: Dynamics of Small-State Strategic Intelligence: Joining NATO in Times of Militarised International Relations, Olli Teirilä  Chapter 16: Conclusions: A Leverage State in the Making, Tommi Koivula, Matti Puranen and Antti Seppo

Biography

Tommi Koivula is Professor of Strategic Studies at the Department of Warfare, Finnish National Defence University. His books include European Union and the Use of Military Force: Uncovering the Myths (2016) and NATO’s Burden-Sharing Disputes: Past, Present and Future Prospects (2022, with Heljä Ossa).

Matti Puranen is Associate Professor of Strategic Studies at the Department of Warfare, Finnish National Defence University. He is the co-editor of Competing Visions for International Order Challenges for a Shared Direction in an Age of Global Contestation (2025, with Ville Sinkkonen and Veera Laine).

Antti Seppo is Researcher in the STRAX (Transforming Strategic Cultures in Europe) research project at the Department of Warfare, Finnish National Defence University. He is the author of From Guilt to Responsibility and Beyond: The Evolution of German Strategic Culture After the End of the Cold War (2021).

“In a turbulent security environment, Finland’s role as a NATO ally is pivotal. This timely, incisive edited volume assesses Finland’s strategic transformation and its contributions to the Alliance, offering sharp insights of major value to scholars and practitioners across security studies.”

 Lisbeth Aggestam, Associate Professor, University of Gothenburg, Sweden

“Finland in NATO - Perspectives on Strategy provides an up to date all-around analysis of Finland’s grand strategy since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It offers a solid understanding of the challenges Finland faces as a fresh member of NATO in the context of the present and future changes in Baltic-Arctic regional security.”

Tuomas Forsberg, Professor of International Relations, Tampere University, Finland

“An excellent and important book on a new and pivotal NATO ally. A must read for anyone interested in NATO’s evolving Northern, Eastern, and Western character.”

Sten Rynning, Professor of War Studies – Director of Danish Institute for Advanced Study, University of Southern Denmark