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Overview
This unit introduces open questions. This question form allows the respondent freedom and space to answer and often provides a useful introduction to any interaction. They often generate more information allowing the questioner to evaluate approriate follow-up strategies. The use of open questions is foundational to any interaction and especially those in which information gathering is important.
The Reading section of this Unit examines eugenics, yet another Nordic paradox. On the one hand, the Nordic countries want to portray their liberal social democratic values and yet they have actively invoked eugenics as part of their social and economic policies. Eugenics and its impact on social engineering is the elephant in the room and Finland has been one of the strongest proponents of eugenics policies.
E.2. Reading Look at this before doing the tasks to be found in No.7 in the dropdown menu. After which the Answer Key Pointers and Sources can be used to evaluate your answers to the tasks.
Professor of Genetics at Helsinki University, Harry Federley in Helsinki October 1940. Photo: Hugo Sundsrom, Finnish Heritage Agency. Federley was a leading proponent of eugenics policy in Finland.
This is the title of an article from an article in Al Jazeera questioning the herd immunity proposals in Sweden at the onset of the pandemic (1.4.2020).
Think About:
“Frankly I had thought that at the time Roe was decided, there was concern about population growth and particularly growth in populations that we don’t want to have too many of” – Ruth Bader Ginsberg
“It is worth remembering one of the important lessons of the Buck story: a small number of zealous advocates can have an impact on the law that defies both science and conventional wisdom” – Paul A. Lombardo
“What nature does blindly, slowly, and ruthlessly, man may do providently, quickly and kindly. As it lies within his power, so it becomes his duty to work in that direction" – Francis Galton
"The time has already come when each country needs a considered national policy about what size of population, whether large or smaller than at present or the same, is most expedient. And having settled this policy, we must take steps to carry it into operation. The time may arrive a little later when the community as a whole must pay attention to the innate quality as well as the mere numbers of its future members" - John Maynard Keynes.
Materials Updates/News:
Periodically, materials will be updated, or there may be news items worthy of attention related to this Unit. They will be notified here. If you come across any news/resources, e.g. journal/newspaper articles relevant to the content of this website, please let me know. I can be contacted via the email address below.
Eugenics:
Euthanasia is but one strand of eugenics. The tools of social engineering continue unabated from immigration to the return of Finnish skulls from Sweden in which researchers in the latter hypothesised that the Swedes were of Germanic origin. In contrast, the Finns were attached to the Mongolians.Yle.19.4.2024.Stolen Finnish skulls.
Alaattinoglu, D. (2023). Grievance Formation, Rights and Remedies – Involuntary Sterilisation and Castration in the Nordics, 1930s-2020s. Cambridge: CUP.
Amy, J., & Rowlands, S. (2018). Legalised Non-Consensual Sterilisation - Eugenics Put into Practise before 1945 and the Aftermath. Part 2: Europe. European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care. 23(3): 194-200.
Recent calls for euthanasia to be introduced into Finland:
Yle.13.5.2024. Poll: Majority of nurses in Finland would legalise euthanasia.
Experts:
Yle. 26.7.2005. Experts Doubts NATO Membership a Risk.
For years, experts had been pushing the non-alignment agenda and yet they had a sudden volte face in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine.
The bias in the expert community is detected in issues from pro-NATO, to pro-immigration, pro-big business to virulent opposition to populism be it on the left or right.
Raunio, T. (1999). Facing the European Challenge: Finnish Parties Adjust to the Integration Process. West European Politics 22(1): 138-159.
Yle. 5.7.2024. Why is Finland's biggest retailer urging customers to welcome foreign workers?
Think tanks are major influencers, they not only give expert opinions representing a specific agenda but derive their funding from vested interests:
Lounasmeri, L. (2020). The Finnish Think Tank Landscape – A Mixture of Consensualism and Adversity? Scandinavian Political Studies 43(3): 187-206.
Wuokko, M. (2017). Business in the Battle of Ideas. Scandinavian Economic History Review. 65(3): 279-293.
The Elites:
Jensen-Eriksen, N. (2018). Capitalism Under Attack: Economic Elites and Social Movement in Post-War Finland. In S. Berger and M. Boldorf (Eds.). Social Movements and the Change of Economic Elites in Europe after 1945 (p.199-217). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Ruostetsaari, I. (1993). The Anatomy of the Finnish Power Elite. Scandinavian Political Studies. 16(4): 305-337.
Campati, A. (2021). Elite and Liberal Democracy: A New Equilibrium? Topoi. 41: 15-22.
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