As Finland takes on the OSCE Chairpersonship role for 2025, numerous actors in Finnish society have begun to discuss CSCE/OSCE history and its role in Finnish foreign policy. The Paasikivi-seura, Yle, The Ulkopolitist, and even the film community have all supported the public debate on foreign policy history.
As a final section of the OSCE by All project, Historians without Borders in Finland has curated a student policy-recommendation paper series in support of the 2025 Finnish Chairpersonship. The series looks at the OSCE’s added value in the European security architecture, as well as Finland’s engagement with the OSCE. We hope to offer both an entry point for a younger generation to create their own interest and understanding of the institution, as well as a valuable contribution to national and international discussions on the OSCE.
Students were recruited from the University of Turku, University of Tampere, and University of Helsinki. The themes of the papers, written in Finnish and English, are OSCE small arms and light weapons policy in the Western Balkans from a historical perspective, the historical development of an intersectional OSCE anti-human trafficking policy, a historical analysis of Finnish media coverage of Finnish OSCE policy, and a comparison of the Finnish 2008 and 2025 Chairpersonship priorities. Every second week until the beginning of April, a new paper will be published on the HwB website.
The publication of this series begins on the third anniversary of Russia’s 2022 beginning of its war of aggression against Ukraine. Finland’s chairpersonship of the OSCE places support for Ukraine as a top priority. In the same way, supporting resilience in all participating States is an important priority for 2025. By looking at how the OSCE has supported the resilience of many OSCE participating States, we can better target our support to Ukraine in these difficult times. We must defend the Helsinki principles on both sides of the Atlantic.
The series was edited by Bradley Reynolds, board member of Historians without Borders, supported by research director Marko Lehti of the Tampere Peace Research Institute (TAPRI), as well as professor Louis Clerc of Turku University. The series is a collaboration between Historians without Borders in Finland, University of Turku, TAPRI, University of Helsinki, and the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Happy reading!
OSCE by All team
Student papers:
Finland’s 2025 OSCE Chairpersonship: Opportunities for Gender-Responsive Arms Control
An Analysis of Gendered Dimensions of Small Arms Control in the Western Balkans, by Rani Deleersnijder.
Published on 24 February 2025.
Etyj suomalaisen ulkopolitiikan sateentekijänä vai syntipukkina?
Etyk/Etyj politiikantekijöiden ja Helsingin Sanomien puheissa vuosina 1992 ja 2008
Written by Essi Ukkonen. Published on 10 March 2025.
Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings Through the Inclusion of Financial Investigations
Co-ordination and Dialogue Through the OSCE
Written by Dorotea Gravellino. Published on 24 March 2025.
Jatkuvuudesta kriisinkestävyyteen: Suomen puheenjohtajakaudet Etyjissä 2008 ja 2025
Written by Julia Niinistö. Published on 7 April 2025.
