Values of Finnish society - yhteiskuntaorientaatio.fi
Values are principles people consider important
Values are principles that individuals or groups of people consider important and aspire to live by. Values can be used to evaluate people’s behaviour or justify the choices they make. Values may refer to, for example, equality, social equity or world peace. These values are states of affair that people and societies aspire to achieve. There are also values that describe how people are expected to behave. Such values include, for example, courtesy, honesty, or diligence.
What a person considers important or desirable often changes during life. The values of an entire society can also change in situations of major change or crisis. People living in the same society have different values. Not all Finnish residents consider the same things important or base their lives on the same values.
In democratic societies such as Finland, there is a lot of debate about values. In such societies, many different views and opinions co-exist. For example, different political parties and politicians have different values that guide their decision-making. Voters try to choose a party and politicians whose values correspond with their own.
In today’s society, values are also attached to the institutions of society. For example, the judicial system upholds values such as equality and justice, and for the military, national security is an important value.
What are the values Finland was built on?
The fundamental values of Finnish society, found in the Constitution of Finland, are freedom, human rights, equality and equity. Equity means that all people must be treated fairly. No one shall be discriminated against on personal grounds, such as ethnicity, disability or religion.
The goal is that everybody should have the opportunity to receive the care they need, to study, to find a career and success in life. Many laws also safeguard the realization of these values. In practice, however, an individual’s background or characteristics, such as skin colour, age or gender, may influence how a person is treated.
The law is the same for all people in Finland. This has not always been the case. For example, in the 19th century, members of the upper estates had different rights than others. The nobility did not pay taxes, and clergy could not be convicted of crimes the same way as other people.
What kind of values the residents of Finland appreciate?
The values of the residents of Finland have been researched. According to research, the most important values are, for example, equality, work, diligence and honesty, general education and knowledge, nature and protection of nature and the environment, and the will to defend the country.
Equality and non-discrimination create stability and security in Finland
A key issue valued in Finland is social equality. All people as individuals are equal and have political and legal equality. Equality also means gender equality. Women and men have the same rights and obligations and must be treated equally. Even more broadly, equality can mean that equal status in society also belongs to different gender and sexual minorities as well as people with disabilities.
Social equality and equity create trust between people. This trust will bring stability and security, but also greater economic competitiveness, efficiency and innovation capacity.
The trust in people other than just one’s own family can, for example, be seen in the popularity of associations. Many people in Finland participate in association activities, and there is a wide selection of associations, where people work together to achieve common goals. Co-operation, in turn, continues to increase trust among people.
Work and diligence, punctuality and honesty are valued in Finland
Many also consider work and diligence to be important values. Working is an important part of a person’s identity, and a hard-working and conscientious employee is valued. In addition, fruitfulness and punctuality are valued. Honesty is also an important value in Finland. Finland has the second least corruption in the world. Social equality, honesty and work are part of a Protestant set of values that is also familiar from many other northern European countries.
Education and general knowledge are keys to a good life and interesting work
Education and knowledge are also regarded as key values. Education is built on knowledge and skills learned at educational institutions. A learned person has a solid knowledge base and empathy skills as well as good judgement and functioning. In Finland, schooling and education are valued as well as the fact that they are accessible to everyone. Education and training are important for achieving a good life. The teaching profession is popular and appreciated.
Environmental protection and nature are important in Finland
For Finns, roaming in nature and enjoying beautiful landscapes as well as nature-conservation and biodiversity are important. For example, forest legislation aims at taking environmental protection aspects into consideration. For many residents, valuing the unique nature and landscapes of Finland is a part of their Finnish identity.
The security and defence of the country mean a lot
Many people living in Finland name the strong will to defend the country as one of their most important values. The will to defend the country means the willingness to take care of and take responsibility for the security of one’s own circle and the wider community.
Finland has been an independent country for a little over 100 years, and in the recent past there have been wars that threatened the independence. In Finland, many people have a rather strong sense of nationalism, i.e., a sense of togetherness and pride in their own country and its traditions. If the national feeling is strong, people see their own country as worth defending.
Finland has general conscription that applies to male Finnish citizens aged 18 to 60. Women can apply for military service on a voluntary basis. Finland has one of the largest reserve forces in the world relative to its population.
Suomessa on yleinen asevelvollisuus, joka koskee 18–60-vuotiaita miehiä, joilla on Suomen kansalaisuus. Naiset voivat suorittaa varusmiespalveluksen vapaaehtoisina. Suomessa on väkilukuun suhteutettuna yksi maailman suurimmista reserviläisarmeijoista.