Mustajoki A., Protassova E. Finnish-Russian Relationships: the Interplay of Economics, History...
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far away,
but as friends, neighbours, buyers and sellers. This makes people think that
despite the wars in the past they have to learn Russian and
try to understand the coun-
try through its language.
Current events have reinforced old stereotypes and revitalized some of the long
forgotten opinions. Finns have varying degrees of competence in Russian and Russian-
ness, but even scant knowledge is useful. This realistic view seems to predominate with
those who influence the political and economic relationships; nevertheless, the psycho-
logical trauma of the wars is still present especially with the older people.
The contemporary ambiguity of the Russian language use shows the connection
between the language and the cultural and political situation. The pluses of
individual
connectedness are evident, and the privileges can be given to those who are competent
in the Russian affairs. The discussion on the meaning of such competence
is subject
to influence from the economy, politics, and cultural and sportive activities. Given that
Russia remains unpredictable yet predictable, people swing back and forth in their moods.
At the beginning of February in 2014, TIME contributor Simon Schuster pre-
dicted that Western leaders who were not at the opening
ceremony of the Winter
Olympics in Sochi would regret it. Finnish President Sauli Niinist
ö
and
his wife were
there at the Olympic stadium, and Niinist
ö
returned to Sochi in August 2014 to meet
President Putin. The following day he met President Poroshenko in Kiev. This is how
Finns cope with their
eastern neighbour, preserving their sovereignty and their self-
esteem at the same time.
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