The Åland Example and its Components
The Åland solution, with its roots in the early 20th century, provided answers to three distinct questions and problems. They were the issue of political decision-making and power sharing, the issue of security on Åland, for Finland and in the region, and the issue of protection of the identity, culture and language of the Swedish-speaking islands.
The problems, and their answers, existed at both the national and international level. The decisions by the League of Nations and the agreements of 1921 resolved the international aspects of the conflict. National legislation then implemented the agreement’s framework. An important component of this was Finland’s constitutional bilingualism, where Finnish and Swedish were established as coequal.
Power sharing & decision-making
Autonomy
Åland is an autonomous province of Finland. Åland has the authority to enact its own laws in many areas and has its own parliament and government.
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Security
Demilitarisation & neutralisation
Åland may not be fortified and the right to a military presence is rigorously limited. Neutralisation means that during wartime Åland must be kept completely outside of all war operations.
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Identity, language & culture
Protection of Minorities
Åland has a special, statutory protection for the Swedish language and its culture.
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