For a long time in Europe, Finland was considered as an example of a successful, non-aligned neighbor of Russia. However, this perspective is misleading. During the Soviet era, Finland had been treated by the KGB as an »experimental laboratory« for different forms of political, economic, military, intelligence, and informational coercion. Not only did the Soviets learn and test new strategies. Especially after the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Finland and Finnish »friends« were used to promote Russian strategic interests within the European Union. This book analyzes the myth of neutrality and explains how Russian influence operates in Europe—and why its understanding is more important today than ever before.
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Pekka Virkki
Pekka Virkki is a Helsinki-based journalist and bestselling author specializing in the Baltic Sea region and security. He holds an MA in Social Sciences (International Relations and Regional Studies, University of Tartu). His articles, statements, and commentaries on foreign and security policy—especially Russian influence activities—have been published in numerous well-known think tank publications, newspapers, and magazines, e.g. CEPA, The Times, and numerous Nordic, European, and North American media outlets.
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Pekka Kallioniemi
Dr Pekka Kallioniemi is an expert on social media and disinformation who has worked as an independent consultant and a postdoctoral researcher on human-technology interaction at Tampere University (Finland). He has studied Russian online information operations and disinformation. Dr Kallioniemi has published the popular Vatnik Soup series since October 2022.
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Delivery time
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Not yet available
Available on 15.06.2026
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| Foreword by | Pekka Kallioniemi |
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Number of Pages |
322
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Type |
Paperback
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Format |
210,0 mm x 148,0 mm
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Publication date |
15.06.2026
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Language |
English
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ISBN
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978-3-8382-1999-8
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Weight
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465 g
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Product safety information (EU GPSR)
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Without this [book], it is hard to understand our history.
—Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Former President of Estonia (2006–2016), Visiting Professor of Democracy in the Digital Age, University of Tartu
In a meritorious way, the book shows how deep the Russian appeasement was rooted in the Finnish political and economic elites
—Dr Alpo Rusi, Ambassador Emeritus, Former Advisor to the President of Finland (1994–2000), Visiting Professor, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania
Virkki is one of those rare professionals who can handle numerous different phenomena and topics, taking into account aspects related to politics, economics, and the world of intelligence, as well as psychological and personal profile factors.
—From a review of Virkki’s book, published in Maailma ja paikat, an online publication focusing on geopolitics, Russia, and international relations
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