The Åland Islands Peace Institute has initiated a book project on the ideas, development and conditions of democracy in Åland. A project that has been ongoing during 2019-2020 and has been completed in 2021. The book is titled in Swedish “Styr ålänningar sitt eget öde? Demokratiperspektiv på Åland” and was published on 15 September 2021 in collaboration with the Åland Museum’s image archive and the publisher Cavannus.
In 12 chapters, accompanied by Elis Fogdes photographs from the Åland museum’s image achive, the authors take us into an open discussion about democracy in Åland where facts meet interpretation and where old questions are asked again in new forms. With the book we hope to contribute to a wider social discussion about what democracy is today in a small society, in a self governed place and for all the people who live here.
The project has brought together authors and researchers related to Åland or Åland issues, from different disciplines, including three of the Peace Institute’s employees. The book project strengthens the interdisciplinary research environment in Åland and contributes to the development of knowledge on societal issues. The researchers have looked at the relationship between self-government and democracy as part of the development of democracy in Finland, the Nordic region, Europe and the world. Issues of participation, the rule of law and democracy in everyday life are in focus.
The book is sold in bookstores on Åland
– Discussions about democracy are needed at many levels, also in Åland. The book features a fantastic group of authors with many new and interesting thoughts, says Sia Spiliopoulou Åkermark, anthology editor and the Director of the Åland Islands Peace Institute.
The authors participating are: Susann Simolin, Richard Palmer, Janne Holmén, Åsa Gustafsson, Maria Ackrén, Kenth Häggblom, Sanna Roos, Petra Granholm, Ida Jansson, Bjarne Lindström, Sia Spiliopoulou Åkermark, Calle Koskela, Ida Hughes Tidlund and Staffan Beijar.
Editor: Sia Spiliopoulou Åkermark
The book is sold in ‘’Mariehamns bokhandel’’ and ‘’Lisco bok & pappershandel’’ and can be ordered through theire websites. The project has been supported by the Åland Cultural Foundation, among others.
Click on the images below to see the table of contents in the book:
