The majority of Finns are in favour of military non-alliance. The ABDI survey 27.1.2004

Two-thirds of Finns, 65 % are of the opinion that Finland should remain militarily non-allied. Military non-alliance is equally supported among women and men, 65 % and 64 % respectively.

Among young people there is somewhat more support to non-alliance compared to other age groups: 68 % of the 15 to 24-year-old, other age groups 63 to 66 %. A clear majority of the Green Party's voters (74 %), the Swedish People's Party's voters (73 %), the Leftist Union's voters (68 %), the Centre Party's voters (67 %), the Social Democratic Party's voters (66 %) and a minority of the Coalition Party's voters (43 %) are in favour of military non-alliance.

Nearly one in four Finns (24%) think that Finland should seek military alliance. Support to military alliance correlates to some extent with gender, educational background, income level and political views. 29 % of men and 20 % of women support military alliance. Of those holding a university degree, 35 % support military alliance while 20 % of those with lower educational level are of this opinion. 51 % of the Coalition Party's voters support military alliance while the figure is 27 % among the Swedish People's Party's voters, 24 % among the Centre Party's voters and the Social Democratic Party's voters, 23 % among the Leftist Union's voters, and 15 % among the Green Party's voters. Compared to 2002, support to military alliance has increased among the voters of the largest parties: 14 % in the Coalition Party, 11 % in the Leftist Union, and 4 % in the Social De-mocratic Party and the Centre Party. There is no statistically significant change among the Green Party's voters.

The Advisory Board of Defence Information (ABDI ) has asked the same question since 1996. Mili-tary non-alliance has been supported by 60 to 79 % of the interviewees. In 2002, military non-alliance was supported by 70 %. Military alliance has been supported by 16 to 29 % of the interviewees. In 2002, military alliance was supported by 22 %. The most typical supporter of military alliance is a man over 50 years of age who lives in western Finland, earns more than EUR 35 000 per annum, is academically educated and votes for the Coalition Party. The most typical supporter of military non-alliance is young woman who lives in eastern Finland, earns less than EUR 25 000 per annum, is not academically educated and votes for the Green Party.

If Finland decides to ally militarily, Nato is the best option

If Finland decides to ally militarily, a majority of Finns think that Finland’s membership in Nato is the best option. Membership with no peace-time troops from other Nato countries and bases in Finland is supported by 51 % while 7 % support membership with peace-time troops from other Nato countries and bases in Finland.

In the most senior age group, the 50 to 74-year-old, 51 % find Nato options as the best ones and 17 % do not know. In the other age groups, 62 to 64 % find the Nato options as the best ones and 6 to 11 % do not know.

In 2002, 50 % of Finns thought that membership in Nato was the best option. Now 30 % of Finns find the development of the European Union towards a military alliance to be the best option while in 2002, this was supported by 17 % of Finns. The outcome is not fully comparable because, in the 2002 survey, a defence alliance with Sweden was one of the options. This was supported by 20 % of Finns.

A majority of Finns believe that Finland is committing itself to Nato's membership

59 % of citizens believe that as a result of co-operation at many levels, Finland is committing itself to Nato's membership. 66 % of men and 52 % of women are of this opinion. 73 % of the Leftist Union's voters consider this to be true; the figure is 65 % among the Green Party's voters; 64 % among the Coalition Party's voters; 63% among the Centre Party's voters; 61 % among the Social Democratic Party's voters; and 39 % among the Swedish People's Party's voters. 27 % of Finns do not believe that Finland is committing itself to membership in Nato.

The ABDI has asked the same question in years 1998-2001, too. Of the interviewees, 66 % to 45 % have considered it to be true that Finland is committing itself to Nato's membership. Support to the opposite view has varied between 39 % and 25 %.

Current peace support missions and crisis-management operations are sufficient for the European Union

Over half of Finns, 57 %, find that the European Union should continue current type of peace support missions and crisis-management operations. 61 % of women and 51 % of men are of this opinion. The figure is 66 % among the Leftist Union's voters; 64 % among the Green Party's voters; 63% among the Social Democratic Party's voters; 61 % among the Swedish People's Party's vot-ers; 56 % of the Centre Party's voters, and 49 % among the Coalition Party's voters.

The survey found 27 % of citizens are in favour of arranging a common defence in the European Union. Differences between parties are fairly big: 40 % of the Coalition Party's voters are in favour of this; 28 % of the Centre Party's voters; 27 % of the Swedish People's Party's voters; 26 % of the Green Party's voters; 24 % of the Social Democratic Party's voters; and 24 % of the Leftist Union's voters support the building of a common defence in the European Union.

One in ten of the citizens interviewed find that the European Union should altogether refrain from military operations. 9 % of women and 12 % of men are of this opinion. The most support to this view is found among the 35 to 49-year-old (13 %) who earn EUR 25 001 to 35 000 (14 %), are of labour background (14 %), represent the lowest (12 %) and highest (11 %) educational background, vote for ‘other parties' (26 %), the Leftist Union (15 %) and the Centre Party (12 %).

When the survey was conducted between 1 and 17 December 2003, the new constitution of the European Union was being discussed. However, whether interviews were conducted before or after the Intergovernmental Conference in Brussels on 13 December 2003 does not seem to have affected the outcome of the survey.
If the European Union is to build a common defence, the member countries should do it

If the European Union is to build a common defence, 53 % of citizens think that the EU member countries should rely on themselves. 54 % of women and 51 % of men are in favour of this view. Over one in three (35 %) find that this should be done in collaboration with Nato. Among men, 42 % support this while among women the figure is 27 %. Nearly one in five women (19 %) and 6 % of men were not able to answer the question.

Interviewees held different views according to political sympathies. 72 % of the Leftist Union's voters were in favour of building the EU's common defence with the effort of member countries; this was supported by 69 % of the Green Party's voters, 58 % of the Swedish People's Party's voters, 57 % of the Social Democratic Party's voters, 51 % of the Centre Party's voters and 45 % of the Coalition Party's voters.

As to building a common defence with Nato, 49 % of the Coalition Party's voters were in favour of this arrangement; 39 % of the Centre Party's voters; 34 % of the Social Democratic Party's voters; 31 % of the Swedish People Party's voters; 25 % of the Green Party's voters; and 14 % of the Leftist Union's voters.

Should Finland participate if the European Union is to build a common defence?

15 % of the population think that Finland should not participate in building the EU's common defence. 39 % of the Leftist Union's voters supported this view while the figure is 13 % among the Centre Party's voters and the Green Party's voters; 11 % among the Coalition Party's voters; 9 % among the Swedish People's Party's voters; and 8 % among the Social Democratic Party's voters.

Almost half (45 %) of citizens find that Finland should participate in building the EU's common defence only when the member countries do it. This view was supported by 56 % of the Green Party's voters; 54 % of the Social Democratic Party's voters; 41 % of the Centre Party's voters; 39 % of the Leftist Union's voters and the Coalition Party's voters; and 31 % of the Swedish People's Party's voters.

14 % of Finns think that a common defence should be built with Nato only. This was supported by 22 % of the Coalition Party's voters; 20 % of the Swedish Peoples Party's voters; 17 % of the Centre Party's voters and the Social Democratic Party's voters; 8 % of the Green Party's voters; and 7 % of the Leftist Union's voters.

Nearly one in five Finns (18 %) think that Finland should participate in building the EU's common defence irrespective of whether this is done by the EU member countries only or in collaboration with Nato. 16 % of women and 21 % of men are in favour of this view.

Should Finland participate in peace support missions and crisis-management operations in areas where war is fought?

Two-thirds of Finns (64 %) are of the opinion that Finland should participate in peace support missions and crisis-management operations also in areas where war still goes on. 67 % of women and 61 % of men support this. In the youngest age group, the 15 to 24-year-old, 78 % support this; among the 50 to 74-year-old, the figure is 52 %.

Nearly one in three Finns (30 %) find that Finland should not participate in peace support missions and crisis-management operations in areas where war is still fought. Among women, 25 % think that Finland should not participate; among men the figure is 35 %. Among the youngest age group, 15 to 24-year-old, 18 % support this view while among 50 to 74-year-old the figure is 40 %.

Peace support missions should be under the UN mandate

69 % of Finns think that Finland should participate in peace support missions and crisis-management operations only under the UN or the OSCE mandate. Views among women and men do not differ on this question.

Among the Green Party's voters and the Swedish People's Party's voters, 82 % are in favour of the UN mandate; 79 % of the Leftist Union's voters; 73 % of the Social Democratic Party's voters; 70 % of the Centre Party's voters; and 68 % of the Coalition Party's voters support the UN mandate.

13 % of Finns support Finland's participation in peace support missions and crisis-management operations decided on by the European Union, without the UN or the OSCE mandate. 3 % of Finns support Finland's participation in peace support missions and crisis-management operations decided on by Nato only, while 6 % think that Finland should participate irrespective of whether the mandate is by the European Union or Nato.

The will to defend the country is high among Finns

Nearly two-thirds of Finns (73 %) say that if an attack was launched against Finland, Finns should resort to armed defence in all situations, even if the outcome was uncertain. 22 % of citizens think that Finns should not defend themselves. In 2002, the figures were 78 % and 17 % respectively. The change in the women's opinion explains the lower figure for the will to defend the country; in this survey 63 % answer in the affirmative while in 2002 the figure was 72 %. Among men, the corresponding figures are 82 % and 83 %.

83 % of the Centre Party's voters are in favour of armed defence; the figure is 81 % among the Coa-lition Party's voters; 74 % among the Social Democratic Party's voters; 71 % among the Leftist Union's voters; 64 % among the Green Party's voters; and 58 % among the Swedish Peoples Party's voters. Against armed defence were 33 % of the Swedish Peoples Party's voters, 30 % of the Green Party's voters; 27 % of the Leftist Union's voters; 21 % of the Social Democratic Party's voters; and 14 % of the Centre Party's voters and the Coalition Party's voters. The question about the will to defend the country has been asked in its present wording since 1982 in the surveys of the Advisory Board of Defence Information.

Finns are satisfied with the defence budget level

57 % of Finns think that the defence budget level should be retained at its current level while 29 % find it should be increased and 11 % are in favour of reduction. In 2002, the figures were 56 %, 31 % and 10 % respectively. Compared to the previous year, the difference in opinions between men and women has remained much the same. 53 % of men are in favour of retaining the current level; the figure among women is 62 %. Among men, 34 % support an increase in the defence budget; among women, the figure is 24 %. As to reducing the current level, 8 % of women support this; among men, the figure is 12 %. The question about defence funding has been asked since 1964.

General conscription is supported by a large majority of Finns

Four in five (79 %) of Finns are in favour of the current type of conscription army. Over 10 % find that the number of those who are liable for military service should be gradually reduced; less than 10 % of the interviewees think that Finland should introduce a professional army. There are some differences between age groups, parties and the different areas of the country (the figures in the brackets represent the outcome in 2002).

Among the 15 to 24-year-old, 69 % are in favour of the current system (74 %); the figure is 85 % among the 50 to 74-year-old (84%). Among the Green Party's voters 66 % support the current system (63 %); among the Leftist Union's voters 76 % (56 %); among the Swedish Peoples Party's voters 79 % (100 %); among the Social Democratic Party's voters 83 % (83 %); among the Coalition Party's voters 83 % (90 %;, and among the Centre Party's voters 90 % (92 %).

Regionally, the most support to the current system, 86 %, is to be found in eastern and northern Finland (81 %). The figure for western Finland is 82 % (81 %) and 73 % for southern Finland (80 %).

Finland's foreign policy has been successfully pursued

Compared to 2002, confidence in the way foreign policy has been pursued increased by seven points. Now 86 % of citizens find that Finland's foreign policy has been successfully pursued while 11 % are of the opposite opinion. In autumn 2002, the figures were 79 % and 14 % respectively.

Among the Centre Party's voters, confidence in the way foreign policy has been pursued has increased by ten points on the previous year, from 78 % to 88 %. Among the Green Party's voters, confidence has clearly increased from 83 % to 91 %. Figures for other parties are at the same level as before: the Social Democratic Party 92 %; the Coalition Party 87 %; and the Leftist Union 84 %. Citizens' opinion of the way Finland's foreign policy is pursued has been asked since 1964.

The interviewees were also asked how well or badly Finland has maintained its relations with other countries. 93 % find that Finland has maintained good relations with Sweden. As to other Nordic countries, the figure is 88 %, and regarding other countries, as follows: Russia 81 %; Estonia 88%; other Baltic states 73 %; Germany 85 %; France and Great Britain 74 %; and the United States 75 %. However, Finns are more critical of how Finland has maintained relations with less developed countries: 56 % think that relations are well maintained while 35 % consider that relations are badly maintained. Compared to 2002, there are no statistically significant changes.

Finns have confidence in how the European Union’s foreign policy is implemented

Since 2001, the Advisory Board of Defence Information has asked Finns' view on the EU's foreign and security policy. Currently 66 % of Finns find that the EU's foreign and security policy is suc-cessfully implemented while one in four are of the opposite opinion. In 2002, the figures were almost the same.

Those living in southern Finland who are well educated and have a high level of income seem to have more critical views on how the EU's foreign and security policy is implemented. 60 % of the interviewees living in southern Finland think that the EU's foreign and security policy has been successful; for western Finland the figure is 69 % and for eastern Finland 72 %. Among the Centre Party's voters, 72 % think that the EU's foreign and security policy has been successful; among the Social Democratic Party's voters 69 %; among the Leftist Union's voters 65 %; among the Coalition Party's voters 61 %; among the Green Party's voters 58 %; and among the Swedish Peoples Party's voters 51 %.

Confidence in a more secure future has grown

Nearly one in three of Finns (30 %) find that Finland and Finns will live in a more secure world in the next five years. In 2002, this view was supported by 22 % of citizens. 42 % of citizens find that Finland and Finns will live in a less secure world while in 2002 the figure was 51 %. However, 26 % think that there will be no difference to the current situation; the year before this view was supported by 25 %.

There are some differences between age groups: among the 15 to 24-year-old, 39 % think that they will live in a more secure world; among the 25 to 34-year-old, 21 % are of this opinion; among the 35 to 49-year-old, 27 %; and among the 50 to 74-year-old, 31 %.

Over half of women (51 %) think that the future will be less secure (61 % in 2002) whereas among men, one in three (33 %) are of this opinion (40 % in 2002). Among men, 37 % think that the future will be more secure (28 % in 2002) whereas 22 % of women are of this opinion (16 % in 2002).

Weapons of mass destruction and international terrorism increase most insecurity

As to the factors introduced in the survey, the following were seen as the ones most increasing insecurity: proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (85 %); international terrorism (81 %); nuclear weapons (77 %); nuclear energy production in Russia (75 %); the United States' war against terrorism (57 %); increasing number of foreigners in Finland (54 %); the situation in Iraq (50 %); and the conflict between Israel and Palestinians (46 %). Compared to 2002, international terrorism, nuclear weapons, nuclear energy production in Russia, the United States' war against terrorism and the increasing number of foreigners in Finland have become more prominent compared to other given factors.

Finland's membership in the European Union increases security

Half of Finns find that Finland's membership in the European Union is the most important factor that enhances security, compared to 44 % in 2002. More extensive economic relations are seen as the second most important factor to increase security. Its significance has decreased from 60 % in 2000 down to 37 % in 2003.

The European Union's enlargement in eastern Central Europe and the Baltic states, and Nato's enlargement in the Baltic states are seen to be as equally important factors to increase security (26 % and 27 % respectively).


This is a survey of Finns' opinions on Finland's foreign policy and security and defence policy issues. Also questions related to the European Union's foreign policy and its common defence arrangements have been included. Finns have also been asked what they think of security developments affecting Finland and Finns during the next five years, and the factors affecting security and insecurity. There was a total of 16 questions; of these, five had not been asked before in surveys by the Advisory Board of Defence Information (ABDI).

Taloustutkimus Oy conducted the survey on assignment by the ABDI as part of an omnibus survey. The survey was implemented as a computer-assisted telephone interview (CAPI) 1 to 17 December 2003. A total of 986 persons between the ages 15 to 74 years were interviewed. Except for the province of Åland, all of Finland was covered. Age, gender, region and type of municipality of target groups were considered in quota sampling. Interviews were conducted in 97 towns and cities (45) and municipalities (52). The sample was weighted to represent a target group. Taloustutkimus Oy provided 63 interviewers. The average error margin of the survey on the 95 % reliability level is 2.5 % in both directions.

When interpreting the survey, it should be born in mind that the information is more reliable on large parties than on minor ones; there were fewer minor parties' voters in the sample. Statistically, the Swedish Peoples Party's result is not reliable. One of the questions asked was: Which party did you vote for in the previous general elections? 69.3 % of the interviewees (683) answered the question whereas 30.7 % (303) did not answer the question.

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