teisipäev, november 07, 2006

Suur Suomi

This came to us via our resident West Virginian Estonia enthusiast Jerry, who in turn found it over at Strange Maps - a very cool blog. I have been reading a book recently called Scandinavia by Tony Griffiths which has been my first real introduction to the nationalist Fennoman movement in Finland, which has, perhaps, ideological descendents in the philosophy of current parties in Finland and Estonia like the True Finns and the Isamaa half of the Isamaa-ResPublica Union.

And, so once upon a time in Finland, there were Suur Suomi advocates - nationalists who imagined a super Finnish state, perhaps both inspired by pan-Slavicism and pan-Scandinavianism. In the Suur Suomi ideal, Finnic speaking bog dwellers would rule an area from Norway's Finnmark to the Kola penninsula and then all through Karelia, Ingria, and finally Estonia.

Of course that never happened. Although one could argue these days that economically, Suur Suomi is very much a reality.

13 kommentaari:

Anonüümne ütles ...

wish it were a reality ...

Jens-Olaf ütles ...

Then, where is the centre of gravity of finno-ugrian unity? Is it in Estonia? Or Hungary? Who cares most about the Mari people?

Giustino ütles ...

Then, where is the centre of gravity of finno-ugrian unity? Is it in Estonia? Or Hungary? Who cares most about the Mari people?

Well, Hungary is a very distant cousin lingusitically from Estonia and Finland (and Karelian and Ingrian).

I would guess that Finland is still the "center of gravity." They've arguably had the greatest impact on the world of any Finno-Ugric nation state.

Anonüümne ütles ...

Wow, that is a really cool blog you sited. I got caught up in that for an hour and didn't even realize it.

I especially liked the division of Europe into small parts. Funny, how that Kohr guy left Finland in tact whatever the case was for other larger countries.

And the map of Manhattan boroughs, best one I've seen so far. Turns out I do live in Fort George... :)

Anonüümne ütles ...

Suur-Finland would have had an interesting role at the Barents Sea, with oil and gas.. It would also be interesting how it would have changed the role of Norway toward NATO.

Also, how close it was to become true when Mannerheim rejected the early idea of Germany to attack newly risen Bolsheviks in St. Petersburg, before the actual war. (Mannerheim was in charge of military power if I'm correct, or then I'm mixing something here)

Anonüümne ütles ...

Well, most of the Hungarians I have met have never even heard that they are supposed to be somehow "related" to Estonians. They do know however that they are indeed "related" to the Finns.... I guess it's just not worth it with Estonia...

Giustino ütles ...

Well, most of the Hungarians I have met have never even heard that they are supposed to be somehow "related" to Estonians. They do know however that they are indeed "related" to the Finns.... I guess it's just not worth it with Estonia...

Estonia is small. When people think Scandinavia, they think Sweden, not Denmark. When they think Celtic 'nations' they think Ireland, not Wales.

Anonüümne ütles ...

Is it so amazing that Hungarians hardly know that they are related to us? How many... er... English do know that they are related to Armenians or Albanians? I think the relationship level is about the same.

Anonüümne ütles ...

Swedish is closer to Persian (Iran) than Finnish to Hungarian. Finnish and Hungarian are the furthest in the finno-ugric-family.

I would also believe that since Estonia was occupied by USSR and Finland wasn't, there was more feeling of being free in Hungary when looking at the Finnish direction. Hungary was struggling with USSR badly, more bad at the 1950ies than any other Eastern bloc country.

Anonüümne ütles ...

Well, those Hungarians that I work with knew both Estonia and Finland. Probably it is a matter of intelligence. Some of the people don't even know who's their own president.
Hungary is always a good place to visit, and Hungarians are great people to work with. Never mind they don't look 'Ugric'.

Frank ütles ...

I have a certain idea that the majority of Estonians do not want to belong to "suur"-anythings, and I guess this is something to be said for the famous Estonian common sense ...

Anonüümne ütles ...

frank, so what the h**l is Estonia doing in EU and NATO then? Why are you driving for the Nordic, which is all about "suur"? Get isolated if that's best for you.

Frank ütles ...

Swede, from my point of view Estonia´s option for EU and NATO is born out of sheer necessity (to hold Russia at bay), and not out of a love-affair or just sympathy ...