Study title

Finnish Opinions on Security Policy and National Defence 2006

Dataset ID Number

FSD2249

Persistent identifier

urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD2249

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Advisory Board for Defence Information (ABDI)

Abstract

This annual survey charted Finnish public opinion on foreign and defence policy, security, and military alliances. The respondents were asked how well Finland had managed its foreign policy and defence policy, and should Finland take up arms to defend itself if it were attacked. Opinions on defence forces funding were surveyed. One theme pertained to what kind of impact certain factors have on the security of the Finns and Finland (e.g. EU or NATO membership of certain countries, Finland's potential NATO membership, USA's, Russia's or the EU's fight against terrorism, Finland's neutrality).

Views were probed on whether the EU has the right to carry out a military intervention in an EU member state or a non-member state, and on what grounds (e.g. for humanitarian help or to prevent genocide). Further questions covered opinions on Finland's participation in the European Rapid Reaction Force, Finland's defence system (universal conscription or professional army), and what kind of military tasks the country's armed forces should undertake.

Attitudes towards NATO were studied with questions pertaining to Finland's participation in NATO-led crisis management operations, and making armoury and command structure compatible with the NATO standards. The respondents were asked whether Finland should join NATO, and should Finland enter a military alliance or remain non-aligned. One topic covered how concerned the respondents were about the future because of certain issues (e.g. use of nuclear power in Finland, Israel-Palestinian conflict, situation in Iraq, international terrorism, nuclear weapons.) Questions also explored what would be the best option if Finland decided to enter a military alliance or the EU developed a common defence. Opinions were charted on Finland's decision to send peacekeepers to join UN forces in southern Lebanon, and what should the role of UN peacekeepers be there.

Background variables included the respondent's gender, age, economic activity and occupational status, type of neighbourhood, age(s) and number of children, level of education, employment status, household income, household composition, region of residence (NUTS3), economic activity and occupational status of the household's main earner, who in the household was responsible for everyday shopping, which political party R would vote for if the parliamentary elections were held at that time, and which political party R had voted for in the last parliamentary election.

Keywords

European integration; NATO; armed forces; conflict resolution; conscription; crisis management; defence; defence and state security policy; foreign policy; international alliances; international conflict resolution; peace-keeping forces; terrorism

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Conflict, security and peace (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Political behaviour and attitudes (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Series

Finnish Opinions on Security Policy and National Defence

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

The dataset is (B) available for research, teaching and study.

Data Collector

• TNS Gallup Finland

Data Producers

• Advisory Board for Defence Information

Time Period Covered

2006

Collection Dates

2006-09-14 – 2006-10-18

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

People aged 15-74 living in Finland (excluding the Åland Islands)

Time Method

Longitudinal: Trend/Repeated cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Non-probability: Quota

Quota sampling based on age, gender, region of residence, municipality type, income, education, and political party identification.

Collection Mode

Face-to-face interview

Research Instrument

Structured questionnaire

Data File Language

Downloaded data package may contain different language versions of the same files.

The data files of this dataset are available in the following languages: English and Finnish.

FSD translates quantitative data into English on request, free of charge. More information on ordering data translation.

Number of Cases and Variables

109 variables and 1011 cases.

Data Version

2.0

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

As regards political party support, the data are more reliable for major parties than for smaller parties, as the sample contained fewer supporters of smaller political parties. 30% of the respondents did not disclose how they had voted.

Variables identifying R's municipality of residence and postal code have been removed from the data. The data do not contain responses to open-ended questions.

Weighting

There are no weight variables in the data.

Citation Requirement

The data and its creators shall be cited in all publications and presentations for which the data have been used. The bibliographic citation may be in the form suggested by the archive or in the form required by the publication.

Bibliographical Citation

Advisory Board for Defence Information (ABDI): Finnish Opinions on Security Policy and National Defence 2006 [dataset]. Version 2.0 (2018-09-14). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD2249

Deposit Requirement

Notify FSD of all publications where you have used the data by sending the citation information to user-services.fsd@tuni.fi.

Disclaimer

The original data creators and the archive bear no responsibility for any results or interpretations arising from the reuse of the data.

Related Materials

Suomalaisten mielipiteitä ulko- ja turvallisuuspolitiikasta, maanpuolustuksesta ja turvallisuudesta (2006). Helsinki : Maanpuolustustiedotuksen suunnittelukunta MTS. - (Tiedotteita ja katsauksia marraskuu 2006)

Related Publications

Suomalaisten mielipiteitä ulko- ja turvallisuuspolitiikasta, maanpuolustuksesta ja turvallisuudesta (2006). Helsinki: Maanpuolustustiedotuksen suunnittelukunta MTS. Tiedotteita ja katsauksia; marraskuu 2006.

The ABDI Survey 2006 (2007) [online]. Helsinki: Advisory Board of Defence Information, ABDI. http://www.defmin.fi/files/864/MTS_tutkimus_06_raportin_tekst_eng.doc [cited 7 Feb. 2014].

The ABDI Survey Graphs 2006 (2007) [online]. Helsinki: Advisory Board of Defence Information, ABDI. http://www.defmin.fi/files/863/mts-06_ENGL_rapokuvat_(51kpl).pdf [cited 7 Feb. 2014].