Classical Liberalism in Finland in the Nineteenth Century

Jens Grandell

Econ Journal Watch, 2021, vol. 18, issue 2, 235–256

Abstract: For centuries Finland has been a province of the Swedish empire, but in 1809 Finland became an autonomous part of Russia and so became tied to the eastern cultural sphere. For much of the first part of the century Finnish society was rather stagnant as the diet of Finland, the legislative assembly of the grand duchy of Finland, was not allowed to convene and censorship of the press stifled discussion on needed reforms. Slowly things however started to change, as liberalism broke thorough from the 1850s onward. What had mostly been an academic discussion during the early years of the century now became mainstream thought and characterized the tendency in economic policy for decades to come. The more liberally minded Russian emperor Alexander II, who succeeded to the throne in 1855, played an important role in the liberalization of Finland. In 1880 the Finnish liberal movement reached its peak as the short-lived Liberal Party was founded. From this point on liberalism as a political creed somewhat lost its luster as it was challenged by political competition from forces organized around the two language groups of Finland.

Keywords: Anders Chydenius; Erik Gustaf Geijer; J. V. Snellman; Johan Jakob Nordström; Carl Qvist; Frans Ludvig Schauman; Axel Liljenstrand; Édouard de Laboulaye; Leo Mechelin; Fennoman; Svecoman (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A11 A13 B13 B2 B53 O54 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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