Comprehensive Security and Social Capital in International Research

 

Finnish comprehensive security continues to attract international research interest. In a recent study by Andrew Sharples (London School of Economics and Political Science), the concepts and foundations of comprehensive security in Finland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom are examined.

According to the study, a high level of social capital is key for the functioning of Finland’s comprehensive security model. The report notes that general conscription and transparent decision‑making create a culture in which the population understands the importance of actions and information essential to national defence. In Finland, citizens’ connections to military service are strong due to compulsory service for men and voluntary service for women. Those who have completed their service often view it as an experience that brings together age groups and generations.

Sharples argues that Finnish citizens share a common perception of the country’s threat landscape, which, together with conscription, strengthens national cohesion and supports action in line with the comprehensive security model. Social capital also includes the strong inter‑organisational trust between authorities, business representatives, and civil society actors, a factor seen as an advantage for a small nation.

As a conclusion, Sharples states that Finland’s comprehensive security model has evolved to align with the structures of high‑quality social capital, enabling a highly resilient society.

The study in a pdf-format: Whole of Society Defence and Social Capital-Sharples