Authors

• Advisory Board for Defence Information (ABDI)

Keywords

European integration, armed forces, conflict, 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 and military service.

Opinions were charted on the success of foreign policy in 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. The 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. Reasons against or for NATO membership were surveyed. Views were probed on the current, conscription-based defence system. Concern caused by certain phenomena and issues was charted, such as the economic situation in Europe, international crime, cybercrime, increased foreign investment in the Finnish economy and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

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 Finland's participation in international crisis management. Satisfaction with defence policy in the previous few years was investigated. Regarding Finland's military presence in Afghanistan, opinions on Finland's participation in military crisis management, civilian crisis management and development cooperation were probed. 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 with other Nordic countries.

Opinions were probed on the possibility of a military threat against Finland in the following 10-15 years. Views on the measures Finland and the international community should take in the conflict in Syria were surveyed as well as Finland's preparedness for threats against information systems and networks.

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