Study title

Finnish Opinions on Security Policy and National Defence 2008

Dataset ID Number

FSD2405

Persistent identifier

urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD2405

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Advisory Board for Defence Information (ABDI)

Abstract

The Advisory Board for Defence Information (ABDI) commissioned this survey to ascertain the opinions of Finns on Finnish foreign, security, and defence policy. The survey also included questions regarding the relationship between Finland and the NATO. In addition, the respondents were asked to provide their views on how they feel security will develop over the next five years and to assess the factors which affect their feeling of security.

The survey also polled the citizens' views on Finland's participation in the EU rapid response force and in the NATO Response Force, as well as in international peacekeeping and crisis management tasks. They also gave their opinions on the construction of the gas pipeline in the Finnish Gulf, the US missile defence system planned to be deployed in Czech Republic and Poland, Finland's ratification of the treaties banning cluster bombs and land mines, and the introduction of a so-called general service, which would apply to both men and women and could be performed either as military or civil service. One topic covered possible the respondents' future concerns and threats to Finland.

Background variables included the respondent's gender, age, education, occupation, province of residence, and household income.

Keywords

European integration; armed forces; conflict; conflict resolution; conscription; defence; defence and state security policy; foreign policy; international agreements; international alliances; international conflict resolution; international relations

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Conflict, security and peace (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Political behaviour and attitudes (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Series

Finnish Opinions on Security Policy and National Defence

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

The dataset is (B) available for research, teaching and study.

Data Collector

• Taloustutkimus

Time Period Covered

2008

Collection Dates

2008-10-17 – 2008-11-04

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

People aged 15-79 living in Finland (excluding the Åland Islands)

Time Method

Longitudinal: Trend/Repeated cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Non-probability: Quota

The sample was formed by quota sampling, in which the target group's quotas were the distribution of age, gender, province and municipality. Interviews were conducted at 101 locations, 47 of which were cities and 54 were other municipality types.

Collection Mode

Face-to-face interview

Research Instrument

Structured questionnaire

Data File Language

Downloaded data package may contain different language versions of the same files.

The data files of this dataset are available in the following languages: English and Finnish.

FSD translates quantitative data into English on request, free of charge. More information on ordering data translation.

Number of Cases and Variables

186 variables and 980 cases.

Data Version

2.0

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

As regards political party support, the data are more reliable for major parties than for smaller parties, as the sample contained fewer supporters of smaller political parties. 28.5% of the respondents declined to reveal their party affiliation.

The variable indicating municipality has been removed from the data. The data do not include responses to open-ended questions.

Weighting

There is a weight variable (paino) in the data. It weights the sample to resemble the target group so that the N figures correspond to the people aged 15-79 in thousands.

Citation Requirement

The data and its creators shall be cited in all publications and presentations for which the data have been used. The bibliographic citation may be in the form suggested by the archive or in the form required by the publication.

Bibliographical Citation

Advisory Board for Defence Information (ABDI): Finnish Opinions on Security Policy and National Defence 2008 [dataset]. Version 2.0 (2018-09-13). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD2405

Deposit Requirement

Notify FSD of all publications where you have used the data by sending the citation information to user-services.fsd@tuni.fi.

Disclaimer

The original data creators and the archive bear no responsibility for any results or interpretations arising from the reuse of the data.

Related Publications

Suomalaisten mielipiteitä ulko- ja turvallisuuspolitiikasta, maanpuolustuksesta ja turvallisuudesta (2008). Helsinki: Maanpuolustustiedotuksen suunnittelukunta MTS. - (Tiedotteita ja katsauksia joulukuu 2008)

Sinkko, Risto (2010). Maanpuolustustahdon mittaamisen vaiheita ja haasteita. Teoksessa: Näkökulmia maanpuolustustahtoon. (toim. Terho, Sampo), 5-49. Helsinki: Maanpuolustuskorkeakoulu. Johtamisen ja sotilaspedagogiikan laitos. Julkaisusarja 2. Artikkelikokoelmat No 5.

The ABDI Survey 2008 (2008) [online]. Helsinki: Advisory Board of Defence Information, ABDI. http://www.defmin.fi/files/1322/raportti_in_english_08_nettiversio.pdf [cited 7 Feb. 2014].

The ABDI Survey Graphs 2008 (2008) [online]. Helsinki: Advisory Board of Defence Information, ABDI. http://www.defmin.fi/files/1323/figures_in_english_08_internet.pdf [cited 7 Feb. 2014].

Sinkko, Risto (2015). Maanpuolustustahto asevelvollisen koulutuksen ja palveluksen onnistumista selittävänä tekijänä. Helsinki: Maanpuolustuskorkeakoulu. Julkaisusarja 1: Tutkimuksia no. 2. http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-25-2705-2

Gustafsberg, Harri & Nyman, Markku (2018). Yksilöresilienssi ja yhteiskunnan turvallisuus. Tampere: Mentoritiimi.

Weckman, Albert (2023) Public opinion and NATO: How different security environments influence the support for NATO in Finland. Nordic Review of International Studies 1, 4-24.