FINLAND AND THE QUESTION OF ALAND ISLANDS’ AUTONOMY

Abstract

Finland is one of the most ethnically homogenous countries in Europe. However, we find its plurality in existence of Swedish language in certain minority groups, and defining Finnish and Swedish as national and official languages. Aland is a case in point of minority question as a group of islands in Finland where people almost entirely speak Swedish as a native language. Since the example of the Aland Islands in literature is presented as a successful example of solving the problem of minority question which accomplished both political (state) integration, as well as language (cultural) accommodation; the author investigates and concludes that elements and values such as questions of internationalization, peaceful conflict solving, tolerance tradition and willingness to find practical solutions, exceptional significance of the Aland Islands, asymmetrical solutions, and especially treaty compliance feature Aland Islands as a specific model of minority protection. Conspicuous territorial (political) autonomy and feeling of satisfaction of the minority group led to the situation in which Aland Islands are cited as an example which other minority communities in different countries would follow.