State visit from Finland to the University of Gothenburg

Vice-Chancellor Malin Broberg welcomed the guests by reminding them how the University of Gothenburg is an international institution that takes on many responsibilities regarding societal developments.

“We also have an active cooperation with Finland, for example through 23 exchange agreements with Finish universities. As we speak, there are 160 students here with an educational background in Finland.”

The president's speech

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Afterwards, President Alexander Stubb delivered a speech on the topic of A New World Order: An Era of Disarray.

“I will begin by, somewhat unexpectedly perhaps, citing Vladimir Lenin, who explained that there are decades when nothing happens and weeks when decades happen. One eventful point in time was in 1989, when we thought we had seen the end of history and that all countries in the world would become like Sweden and Finland. Instead, we have found ourselves in an age of chaos.”

Part of it owes to there being a new world order.

“The Cold War was considered a bipolar time when communism stood against capitalism.  When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, we became a unipolar world instead, with the USA acting as a sort of global policeman. Now we are entering into a more multipolar world which we have no way of knowing where it might lead.”

Furthermore, the authority of the west has begun to be challenged, continued the President.

“We have the Global West, the Global East, and the Global South, with the south in particular trying to find its place in the world.”

Following the Cold War, many local conflicts flared up. Now, the conflicts are instead regional.

“We will experience both regionalisation of power and unholy alliances where cooperation will occur between nations of differing values.”

Value-based realism is a new term President Alexander Stubb wants to add into the debate.

“Out politics have to rest on values like the rule of law, democracy, and human rights. But there will also come times when we will have to make difficult decisions, where we might influence other countries by acting as role models rather than by moralising.”

Dialogue and Q & A session

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Then followed a dialogue between President Alexander Stubb and Lisbeth Aggestam, Associate Professor at the Department of Political Science. Here, the students of the audience were allowed to ask questions. One such question came from Mona Marsti, who asked how the president plans to handle gender equality within international and security policies.

“In various surveys, be they about freedom or happiness, the Nordic countries always make it to the top ten in the world, the President answered. One reason is that we have come very far in matters of equality; in other words, we can influence others by presenting ourselves as an example to be followed.”

Johannes Milich asked how Finland’s aid policies relate to President Alexander Stubb’s value-based realism.

“The very nature of all aid politics is about to change because it might very well be that the Global South no longer wants any aid but instead wishes to conduct business. But sending aid, just like all other international matters, is tied to a country’s values. Should we, for example, support a country where homosexuals risk being sentenced to death? There are no simple answers.”

Hannes Karjalainen asked about the power distribution between the president and the prime minister of Finland.

“You could say that the president is responsible for that which pertains to NATO, while the prime minister handles matters related to the EU, answered Alexander Stubb. There has to be a clear line of communication between the two, which I think has worked quite well so far.”

Lisa Lundgren wanted to know how Finland, as a member of NATO, can continue to be a peace mediator.

“It is true that we have done much in the role of mediator, for example though President Martti Ahtisaari. But peace negotiations often don’t happen out in the open but might begin as a dialogue going on in the background. I’m sure Finland will continue to play a big role as mediator.”

The visit ended with students of the University of Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra performing a string quartet by Sibelius.

By: Eva Lundgren