Foreign Policy Leadership in Finland: Towards Parliamentarization?

Abstract

Anckar, D. Foreign Policy Leadership in Finland: Towards Parliamentarization? Cooperation and Conflict, XIX, 1984, 219-233.

According to the Finnish Constitution, the President determines Finland's relations with foreign powers. It is commonly believed in Finland that this arrangement is expedient and to the benefit of the nation. This is generally backed with arguments pertaining to the specific nature of foreign policy and to the need for continuity in political life. This paper calls these arguments into question, and it is argued, on the one hand, that the doctrine which emphasizes the specific nature of foreign policy is not well substantiated, and, on the other, that the potential of the presidency lies in discontinuity rather than continuity. It is also argued that attempts at moderating the role of the President in Finnish political life must, if they are to be realistic, involve interferences with his powers in foreign policy.