1887
image of Resilience in Finnish security and defence rhetoric
USD
Buy:$35.00 + Taxes

Abstract

Abstract

This paper examines Finland’s transformed security and defence policies. Following a broader European trend, Finland has begun emphasising resilience as a source of national security. Drawing on previous scholarship that has problematised the normalisation of resilience in security discussions, we examine Finland’s resilience rhetoric. Our focus is on two government reports from 2024 that represent the country’s new security vocabulary. Using Toulmin’s model or argumentation, we dissect how the argument for security-driven resilience is constructed. Finland is an Arctic country where an Indigenous people — the Sámi — live and, overall, the country has acknowledged Indigenous peoples’ vital role in the development of the region. Accordingly, it is pertinent to study how the notion of resilience proffered by the state acknowledges Sámi perspectives. By problematising the assumptions of unity and neutrality that characterise Finland’s security and defence rhetoric, the paper contributes to the discussions on the colonial underpinnings of resilience.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1075/jlp.25100.lin
2025-12-05
2026-01-13
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Alfred, Taiaiake
    2005Wasáse: Indigenous Pathways of Action and Freedom. Peterborough, ON: Broadview Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  2. Aradau, Claudia
    2014 “The Promise of Security: Resilience, Surprise and Epistemic Politics.” Resilience: International Policies, Practices and Discourses(): –. 10.1080/21693293.2014.914765
    https://doi.org/10.1080/21693293.2014.914765 [Google Scholar]
  3. Arctic Cooperation in a New Situation
    Arctic Cooperation in a New Situation 2022 Analysis on the Impacts of the Russian War of Aggression. Government Report 2022:3. Helsinki: Prime Minister’s Office. https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2022122173093
    [Google Scholar]
  4. Bourke, Joanna and Schott, Robin May
    (eds) 2022Resilience. Militaries and Militarization. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. 10.1007/978‑3‑031‑13367‑1
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13367-1 [Google Scholar]
  5. Burke, Kenneth
    1969A Rhetoric of Motives. Oakland. CA: University of California Press. 10.1525/9780520353237
    https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520353237 [Google Scholar]
  6. Cambou, Dorothée and Ravna, Øyvind
    (eds) 2023The Significance of Sámi Rights: Law, Justice, and Sustainability for the Indigenous Sámi in the Nordic Countries. London: Routledge. 10.4324/9781003220640
    https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003220640 [Google Scholar]
  7. Canada’s Arctic Foreign Policy [Google Scholar]
  8. Chandler, David
    2012 “Resilience and Human Security: The Post-Interventionist Paradigm.” Security Dialogue(): –. 10.1177/0967010612444151
    https://doi.org/10.1177/0967010612444151 [Google Scholar]
  9. Chandler, David and Coaffee, Jon
    (eds) 2017The Routledge Handbook of International Resilience. London: Routledge.
    [Google Scholar]
  10. Coaffee, Jon and Fussey, Peter
    2015 “Constructing Resilience Through Security and Surveillance: The Politics, Practices and Tensions of Security-Driven Resilience.” Security Dialogue(): –. 10.1177/0967010614557884
    https://doi.org/10.1177/0967010614557884 [Google Scholar]
  11. Coaffee, Jon and Fussey, Pete
    2017 “The Politics of Security-driven Resilience.” InThe Routledge Handbook of International Resilience, ed. byDavid Chandler and Jon Coaffee, –. London: Routledge.
    [Google Scholar]
  12. Coates, Ken S. and Holroyd, Carin
    2020The Palgrave Handbook of Arctic Policy and Politics. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. 10.1007/978‑3‑030‑20557‑7
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20557-7 [Google Scholar]
  13. Corntassel, Jeff
    2008 “Towards Sustainable Self-Determination: Rethinking the Contemporary Indigenous-Rights Discourse.” Alternatives: –. 10.1177/030437540803300106
    https://doi.org/10.1177/030437540803300106 [Google Scholar]
  14. Coulthard, Glen. S.
    2014Red Skin, White Masks. Rejecting the Colonial Politics of Recognition. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press. 10.5749/minnesota/9780816679645.001.0001
    https://doi.org/10.5749/minnesota/9780816679645.001.0001 [Google Scholar]
  15. Dahl, Jens
    2012The Indigenous Space and Marginalized Peoples in the United Nations. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan. 10.1057/9781137280541
    https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137280541 [Google Scholar]
  16. Evans, Brad and Reid, Julian
    2014Resilient Life. The Art of Living Dangerously. Cambridge: Polity.
    [Google Scholar]
  17. Finland’s Strategy for Arctic Policy
    Finland’s Strategy for Arctic Policy 2021Publications of the Finnish Government 2021:55. Helsinki. https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-383-943-4
    [Google Scholar]
  18. Finlayson, Alan
    2007 “From Beliefs to Arguments: Interpretive Methodology and Rhetorical Political Analysis.” The British Journal of Politics and International Relations(): –. 10.1111/j.1467‑856x.2007.00269.x
    https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-856x.2007.00269.x [Google Scholar]
  19. Finnish Security and Defence Policy
    Finnish Security and Defence Policy 2012Prime Minister’s Office Publications 1/2013. Helsinki. urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-287-010-0
    [Google Scholar]
  20. Flowerdew, John and Richardson, John
    (eds) 2018The Routledge Handbook of Critical Discourse Studies. London: Routledge.
    [Google Scholar]
  21. Frizzelle, Bryan, Garey, Julie and Kulalic, Isak
    2022 “NATO’s National Resilience Mandate: Challenges and Opportunities.” Defence Studies(): –. 10.1080/14702436.2022.2082954
    https://doi.org/10.1080/14702436.2022.2082954 [Google Scholar]
  22. Government Defence Report
    Government Defence Report 2024Publications of the Ministry of Defence 2024:7. Helsinki. https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-663-471-8
    [Google Scholar]
  23. Government Report on Finnish Foreign and Security Policy
    Government Report on Finnish Foreign and Security Policy 2024 Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. Publications of the Finnish Government 2024: 35. Helsinki. https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-383-929-8
    [Google Scholar]
  24. Greaves, Wilfrid
    2016 “Arctic (In)security and Indigenous Peoples: Comparing Inuit in Canada and Sámi in Norway.” Security Dialogue(): –. 10.1177/0967010616665957
    https://doi.org/10.1177/0967010616665957 [Google Scholar]
  25. Green, Joyce
    2007 “Balancing Strategies: Aboriginal Women and Constitutional Rights in Canada.” InMaking Space for Indigenous Feminism, ed. byJoyce Green, –. London: Zed Books.
    [Google Scholar]
  26. Grove, Kevin
    2014 “Agency, Affect, and the Immunological Politics of Disaster Resilience.” Environment and Planning D: Society and Space(): –. 10.1068/d4813
    https://doi.org/10.1068/d4813 [Google Scholar]
  27. Gruber, Barbara
    2024 “Affective Discipline — Resilience in Radicalisation Prevention.” Critical Studies on Terrorism():–. 10.1080/17539153.2024.2370553
    https://doi.org/10.1080/17539153.2024.2370553 [Google Scholar]
  28. Hale, Charles R.
    2002 “Does Multiculturalism menace? Governance, Cultural Rights and the Politics of Identity in Guatemala.” Journal of Latin American Studies(): –. 10.1017/S0022216X02006521
    https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022216X02006521 [Google Scholar]
  29. Hasian, Marouf
    2001 “Rhetorical Studies and the Future of Postcolonial Theories and Practices.” Rhetoric Review(): –.
    [Google Scholar]
  30. Health Systems Resilience During COVID-19: Lessons for Building Back Better
    Health Systems Resilience During COVID-19: Lessons for Building Back Better 2021 World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe. https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/9789289051873
  31. Hoogensen Gjørv, Gunhild, Bazely, Dawn R., Goloviznina, Marina and Tanentzap, Andrew J.
    (eds) 2014Environmental and Human Security in the Arctic. Abingdon: Routledge.
    [Google Scholar]
  32. Hoogensen Gjørv, Gunhild, Lanteigne, Marc and Sam-Aggrey, Horatio
    (eds) 2020Routledge Handbook of Arctic Security. Abingdon: Routledge. 10.4324/9781315265797
    https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315265797 [Google Scholar]
  33. Howell, Alison
    2015 “Resilience, War, and Austerity: The Ethics of Military Human Enhancement and the Politics of Data.” Security Dialogue(): –. 10.1177/0967010614551040
    https://doi.org/10.1177/0967010614551040 [Google Scholar]
  34. Huckin, Thomas, Andrus, Jennifer and Clary-Lemon, Jennifer
    2012 “Critical Discourse Analysis and Rhetoric and Composition.” College Composition and Communication(): –. 10.58680/ccc201220861
    https://doi.org/10.58680/ccc201220861 [Google Scholar]
  35. Hyvönen, Ari-Elmeri and Juntunen, Tapio
    2021 “From “Spiritual Defence” to Robust Resilience in the Finnish Comprehensive Security Model.” InNordic Societal Security: Convergence and Divergence, ed. bySebastian Larsson and Mark Rhinard, –. London: Routledge.
    [Google Scholar]
  36. Jauhiainen, Lauri and Schiffling, Sarah
    2025 “Comparing the Resilience Objectives of Finnish Comprehensive Security Model and the NATO Baseline Requirements for Resilience.” Journal of Military Studies(): –. 10.2478/jms‑2025‑0003
    https://doi.org/10.2478/jms-2025-0003 [Google Scholar]
  37. Jokinen, Arja and Juhila, Kirsi
    1999 ”Diskurssianalyyttisen tutkimuksen kartta.” InDiskurssianalyysi liikkeessä, ed. byArja Jokinen, Kirsi Juhila and Eero Suoninen, –. Tampere: Vastapaino.
    [Google Scholar]
  38. Joseph, Jonathan
    2018Varieties in Resilience. Studies in Governmentality. Cambridge: Cambrigde University Press. 10.1017/9781316551028
    https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316551028 [Google Scholar]
  39. Kuokkanen, Rauna
    2011 “Self-determination and Indigenous Women — ‘Whose Voice Is It We Hear in the Sámi Parliament?’.” International Journal on Minority and Group Rights(): –. 10.1163/157181111X550978
    https://doi.org/10.1163/157181111X550978 [Google Scholar]
  40. 2020 “Reconciliation as a Threat or Structural Change? The Truth and Reconciliation Process and Settler Colonial Policy Making in Finland.” Human Rights Review: –. 10.1007/s12142‑020‑00594‑x
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s12142-020-00594-x [Google Scholar]
  41. 2024 “The Problem of Culturalizing Indigenous Self-determination: Sámi Cultural Autonomy in Finland.” The Polar Journal(): –. 10.1080/2154896X.2024.2342125
    https://doi.org/10.1080/2154896X.2024.2342125 [Google Scholar]
  42. Lindroth, Marjo and Sinevaara-Niskanen, Heidi
    2019 “Colonialism Invigorated? The Manufacture of Resilient Indigeneity.” Resilience: International Policies, Practices and Discourses(): –. 10.1080/21693293.2019.1601860
    https://doi.org/10.1080/21693293.2019.1601860 [Google Scholar]
  43. Martin, James
    2022 “Rhetoric, Discourse and the Hermeneutics of Public Speech.” Politics():–. 10.1177/0263395720933779
    https://doi.org/10.1177/0263395720933779 [Google Scholar]
  44. Na’puti, Tiara R.
    2020 “Rhetorical Contexts of Colonization and Decolonization.” Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Communication. https://oxfordre.com/communication/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228613.001.0001/acrefore-9780190228613-e-156. 10.1093/acrefore/9780190228613.013.156
    https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228613.013.156 [Google Scholar]
  45. NATO
    NATO 2023 “’Arctic Remains Essential to NATO’s Deterrence and Defence Posture’, says Chair of the NATO Military Committee.” 20 October. https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_219529.htm
  46. NATO
    NATO 2024 “Resilience, Civil preparedness and Article 3.” 13 November. https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_132722.htm
  47. Niemikari, Risto
    2019 ”Stephen Toulmin, Argumentit: Luonne ja käyttö.” Politiikka(): –. https://journal.fi/politiikka/article/view/83299
    [Google Scholar]
  48. Our North, Strong and Free: A Renewed Vision for Canada’s Defence
    Our North, Strong and Free: A Renewed Vision for Canada’s Defence 2024Government of Canada. Ottawa. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/corporate/reports-publications/north-strong-free-2024.html
    [Google Scholar]
  49. Perelman, Chaïm
    1982The Realm of Rhetoric, translated byWilliam Kluback. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  50. Safer Together. Strengthening Europe’s Civilian and Military Preparedness and Readiness
    Safer Together. Strengthening Europe’s Civilian and Military Preparedness and Readiness 2024 Report by Sauli Niinistö, Former President of the Republic of Finland, in His Capacity as Special Adviser to the President of the European Commission. https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/5bb2881f-9e29-42f2-8b77-8739b19d047c_en?filename=2024_Niinisto-report_Book_VF.pdf
  51. Scheinin, Martin
    2024 ”Kansainväliset alkuperäiskansaoikeudet ja niiden toteutuminen Suomessa. Selvitys saamelaisten totuus- ja sovintokomissiolle. [International rights of Indigenous peoples and their realisation in Finland — Report to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Concerning the Sámi People].” Valtioneuvoston julkaisuja 2024:25. Helsinki: Valtioneuvosto. https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-383-739-3
    [Google Scholar]
  52. Schott, Robin May
    2013 “Resilience, Normativity and Vulnerability.” Resilience: International Policies, Practices and Discourses(): –. 10.1080/21693293.2013.842343
    https://doi.org/10.1080/21693293.2013.842343 [Google Scholar]
  53. 2022 “Resilience as a Failed Concept: The Militarization of Intimate Lives.” InResilience: Militaries and Militarization, ed. byJoan Bourke and Robin May Schott, –. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. 10.1007/978‑3‑031‑13367‑1_8
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13367-1_8 [Google Scholar]
  54. Shome, Raka
    1996 “Postcolonial Interventions in the Rhetorical Canon: An ‘Other’ View.” Communication Theory(): –. 10.1111/j.1468‑2885.1996.tb00119.x
    https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2885.1996.tb00119.x [Google Scholar]
  55. Simosi, Maria
    2003 “Using Toulmin’s Framework for the Analysis of Everyday Argumentation: Some Methodological Considerations.” Argumentation(): –. 10.1023/A:1024059024337
    https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024059024337 [Google Scholar]
  56. Simpson, Audra
    2014Mohawk Interruptus. Political Life Across the Borders of Settler States. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  57. Strategic Compass
    Strategic Compass 2024Annual Progress Report on the Implementation of the Strategic Compass for Security and Defence. Report of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to the Council. European Union. https://www.eeas.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/2024/StrategicCompass_2ndYear_Report_0.pdf
    [Google Scholar]
  58. Summa, Hilkka
    1996 ”Kolme näkökulmaa uuteen retoriikkaan: Burke, Perelman, Toulmin ja retoriikan kunnianpalautus.” InPelkkää retoriikkaa: Tutkimuksen ja politiikan retoriikat, edited byKari Palonen and Hilkka Summa, –. Tampere: Vastapaino.
    [Google Scholar]
  59. Tennberg, Monica
    1998The Arctic Council. A Study in Governmentality. Rovaniemi: University of Lapland.
    [Google Scholar]
  60. The Sámi Parliament
    The Sámi Parliament 2023 “The Sámi Parliament is Disappointed with the Decision of the Constitutional Law Committee — the Constitutional Law Committee Has Stopped Handling of the Sámi Parliament Act.” 24 February. https://samediggi.fi/en/news/the-sami-parliament-is-disappointed-with-the-decision-of-the-constitutional-law-committee-the-constitutional-law-committee-has-stopped-handling-of-the-sami-parliament-act/
  61. Toulmin, Stephen, Janik, Allan and Rieke, Richard
    1979An Introduction to Reasoning. London: Macmillan.
    [Google Scholar]
  62. Toulmin, Stephen
    2003The Uses of Argument. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 10.1017/CBO9780511840005
    https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511840005 [Google Scholar]
  63. Valkonen, Sanna, Aikio, Áile, Alakorva, Saara and Magga, Sigga-Marja
    (eds) 2022The Sámi World. London: Routledge. 10.4324/9781003025511
    https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003025511 [Google Scholar]
  64. Watson, Irene
    2015Aboriginal Peoples, Colonialism and International Law. Raw Law. Abingdon: Routledge.
    [Google Scholar]
  65. Wolfe, Patrick
    2016Traces of History. Elementary Structures of Race. London: Verso.
    [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.1075/jlp.25100.lin
Loading
/content/journals/10.1075/jlp.25100.lin
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Research Article
Keywords: security ; Sámi ; Finland ; resilience ; colonialism ; rhetorical analysis
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was successful
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error