Authors

• Advisory Board for Defence Information (ABDI)

Keywords

European integration, armed forces, conflict resolution, conscription, defence, defence and state security policy, foreign policy, foreign relations, international alliances, international conflict resolution, military expenditure, national security, public expenditure

Abstract

The annual survey charted Finnish public opinion on foreign policy, defence policy, security, military alliances, military service, military reforms and Finland's military presence in Afghanistan.

Opinions were charted on the success of foreign policy during the previous few years, funds allocated to the Defence Forces and whether Finland should resort to armed defence in case of any sort of attack. Respondents were asked how the global security situation would develop in the next five years, whether Finland should form military alliances and whether Finland should apply for NATO membership. Views were probed on the current, conscription-based defence system. Concern caused by certain phenomena and issues, such as economic situation in Europe, international crime, income inequality, cyber crime and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction was charted.

Some questions pertained to issues affecting the safety and security of Finland. These included, among others, EU membership, potential NATO membership, Finland's participation in the EU defence and increased foreign investment in the Finnish economy. The role of the Finnish Defence Forces was surveyed as well as satisfaction with defence policy during the previous few years. The respondents were asked to evaluate how much impact factors such as modern weapon systems, maintaining good relations to neighbouring countries and the amount of funding have on credible defence.

Opinions on Finland's chances to defend itself against an enemy in conventional warfare were investigated, along with views on how well Finland has prepared for the prevention of various security threats, such as infectious diseases/epidemics, environmental hazards, political pressure from other states and terrorism. Regarding Finland's military presence in Afghanistan, the respondents were asked whether Finland should continue civilian crisis management and development cooperation in Afghanistan.

The respondents' readiness to participate in defending Finland in case of attack were queried as well as views on Finnish military cooperation in the EU, with NATO and other Nordic countries. Opinions on the effects of the Finnish Defence Forces reform were surveyed.

Background variables included, among others, the respondent's gender, age, occupational status and economic activity, marital status, occupation of the household head, household composition, ages of children living at home, level of education, gross annual income of the household, newspaper reading and television viewing habits, type of accommodation, consumer durables in the household, Internet use, municipality of residence, the number of inhabitants in the municipality of residence, and political party choice in the previous parliamentary elections.