Authors

• Advisory Board for Defence Information (ABDI)

Keywords

arms industry, conflict resolution, crisis management, defence and state security policy, foreign policy, international conflict resolution, military alliances, military service, national security, national security, peace-keeping forces

Abstract

The survey studied Finnish public opinion on foreign policy, security policy and military alliances. Respondents assessed the country's foreign policy and relations with a number of other countries. Views were probed on whether Finland should join a military alliance or join the Nato if the Baltic countries also join. Opinions on defence expenditure and the conscript army versus the professional army were surveyed. Respondents were asked whether Finland should participate in peace-keeping operations led by the UN, Nato or EU and in which part of the world. Questions covered EU crisis management forces, Finnish expenditure on civil crises management and whether there should or should not be defence material industry in Finland and why.

Background variables included the respondent's sex, age group, main economic activity, employment, marital status, education, type of accommodation, type of neighbourhood, region of residence, household type and composition, household income, party preference, ownership of mobile phone, Internet use, location and frequency of Internet use.