Kastelholm Talks 2017: Finland as a Neighbor – Boundaries and Boundlessness Over the Past Century
The Kastelholm talks of 2017 highlighted the centenary celebration of Finland, discussing the topic “With Finland as a neighbour – boundaries and boundlessness over the past century”. When Finland gained its independence in 1917, Sweden, Russia and other countries around the Baltic Sea and in the Nordic region got a new neighbour. A little later Åland became autonomous, and hereby became an” internal neighbour” for Finland, in a process that also engaged the surrounding world. In the conversation that moved between past and future, it was discussed how the neighbours views Finland’s development and how Finland views the neighbours. What have the last one hundred years entailed for the neighbourhood, and what can we expect from the next century, in view of the past? What relationships and identities will Finland, Åland and their neighbours around the Baltic sea develop in a neighbourhood of transformation of a world that is becoming increasingly boundless? The kastelholm talks 2017, which were the third in order held on March 30, the Ålands demilitarisation day. The Kastelholm talks are held yearly on the Åland Islands under the patronage of former President of Finland, Tarja Halonen. The event started with a panel discussion in the castle […]