The Karelian Question

The Karelian question shows signs of transforming from a divisive issue to a matter of cooperation. It seems to be shifting from a unresolved territorial issue involving the correction of borders towards a resource with strong European and integration-oriented connotations. The traditional statist s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cooperation and Conflict
Main Author: JOENNIEMI, PERTTI
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publications 1998
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0010836798033002004
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0010836798033002004
Description
Summary:The Karelian question shows signs of transforming from a divisive issue to a matter of cooperation. It seems to be shifting from a unresolved territorial issue involving the correction of borders towards a resource with strong European and integration-oriented connotations. The traditional statist stances are still to some extent there, but have become less distinct as more space has been provided for various `low policy' initiatives that reach across borders. It hence appears that the territorial determinants of political processes and social life are declining in importance in the case of the ceded Karelia, thereby promoting a return of the Karelian question in a manner beyond restitution and an adjustment of statist borders.