Susanne Eriksson Åland – a Demilitarised and Neutralised Territory Background • The validity of the conventions • The provisions of the 1921 convention on demilitarisation and neutralisation • The 1940 treaty • Exemption from military service • A changing neighbourhood • Demilitarisation and the EU • Does Åland have a say? • New challenges • Demilitarisation, neutralisation and NATO • Åland as an example Lars Ingmar Johansson Åland’s Autonomy – Its Background and Current Status Historical background • Attempts at reunification • The decision of the League of Nations • The Autonomy Act enters into force • Constitutionally guaranteed • Division of authority between Åland and Finland • The Åland Parliament – structure and working methods • The supervisory power of the Finnish President • Economic self-government • The Åland Government – a provincial administration and civil service • Rules for the protection of Åland’s Swedish language and cultural heritage • Åland on the international arena • Symbols of autonomy • A society evolving on its own terms • Final comment Barbro Sundback A Success Story Cultural autonomy • More Swedish than Sweden • A short history • Reunification • Autonomy • Modernism •Internationalisation • Culture as a strategy for the future