Inclusive or Securitized Democracy? Finnish Democratization as a Counter-Narrative to the Securitization Politics of the 2020s (OTUDEM)

This project critically engages with contemporary securitization discourse by examining three major societal crises in Finland since the 1850s. We explore how Finnish democracy and citizens’ rights have been shaped - or restricted - within the frameworks of national security and perceived population threats. 

Our research highlights how the advancement of democratic principles, civil rights, and access to information has consistently provided sustainable ways out of societal crises. By foregrounding these democratic responses, the project challenges the legitimacy of securitization policies and offers a new interpretation of Finland’s democratization.