Open Speakers Series Lecture - Andrew Newby: “Poor and primitive, but honest and truthful” – Overseas Famine Aid to Finland, 1856-68

Tampere University

Institute for Advanced Social Research (IASR) in cooperation with 

New Social Research Programme (NSR)  

 

Speakers Series 2019-2020, Autumn

 

OPEN LECTURE

“Poor and primitive, but honest and truthful” – Overseas Famine Aid to Finland, 1856-68

Dr Andrew Newby, IASR

Time: Tuesday, 10 December 2019, at 16:15-17:45
Place: Tampere University, NB! Pinni B, lecture hall B1096, Kanslerinrinne 1, 1st fl.

As an “interface periphery” between Europe and the Russian Empire, Finland’s geopolitical position in the nineteenth century problematises binary notions of core and periphery in Europe. Moreover, way in which the Finnish people were constructed by outsiders (xenostereotypes) was remarkable flexible depending upon circumstances. Finland suffered repeated famines during the nineteenth century, most notably the calamitous “Great Hunger Years” of the 1860s, which culminated with the loss of approximately 10% of the population in 1866-68. This presentation will analyse aid that came to Finland from around Europe during the crisis period of 1856-68. It will pay particular attention to (i) the ways in which Finns were constructed as worthy (“deserving”) recipients of such charity; and (ii) the impact that the prevailing international geopolitical situation had on fundraising rhetoric and practice.

 

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