SOVIET UNION VS FINLAND

COLD WAR

GROUP SECOND
PRESENTED BY
ALISHBAH ZAFAR
MAAZ KHALIL
BUSHRA KAMRAN
ANAS RAUF
 SOVIET UNION:
 The Soviet Union, officially known as the Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), that existed from 1922
to 1991. It was a federation of multiple republics, each
with its own administrative structure, united under a
single government.
 CAPITAL: Moscow
 RELIGION: orthodox Christianity
 Government: Socialist state, Federation, Dictatorship,
 LEADER:
 The Soviet Union no longer exists; it dissolved in 1991. The last leader of
the Soviet Union was Mikhail Gorbachev. Gorbachev served as the
General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985
to 1991. He implemented a series of reforms known as (economic
restructuring) and (political openness), which aimed to revitalize the
Soviet system but eventually led to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
 Gorbachev resigned as President of the Soviet Union on December 25,
1991, and the Soviet Union officially ceased to exist on the same day.
Boris Yeltsin, who was the President of the Russian Soviet Federative
Socialist Republic (RSFSR) at the time, became the first President of the
newly independent Russian Federation.
 Vladimir Putin is the current President of the Russian Federation
 LOCATION
 The Soviet Union was located in Eurasia, covering a vast expanse of
territory in both Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. At its height, it was
the largest country in the world in terms of land area. The Soviet Union
bordered a diverse range of countries and had coastlines along several
seas.
 The Soviet Union shared borders with numerous countries, including
Finland, Norway, Sweden, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania,
Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, China, Mongolia, and North Korea,
among others
 GOVERNMENT:
1. Communist Party Leadership
2. Head of State
3. Ideological Control
 SPECIALIZATION

• The Soviet Union was characterized by a planned economy

and a centralized system of economic management.
• Industrialization:
One of the primary focuses of the Soviet economic policy was
rapid industrialization. The government invested heavily in
heavy industry, such as steel, machinery, and chemicals,
• Military Industry:
The Soviet Union maintained a large and powerful military-
industrial complex.
• Space Program:
The Soviet Union was a pioneer in space exploration.
Achievements such as launching the first artificial
satellite, Sputnik 1, in 1957, and sending the first human,
, highlighted the country's technological capabilities and
scientific achievements.
• Energy Production:
The Soviet Union was a major producer of energy, with a
focus on the development of natural resources such as
oil, natural gas, and coal.
• Education and Research:
The Soviet Union invested heavily in education and
scientific research. The government supported a robust
system of higher education and research institutions,
producing a significant number of scientists, engineers,
and professionals
 Finland
 Finland is a country located in Northern Europe bordering
the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and the Gulf of Finland.
Neighboring countries include Sweden, Russia, and
Norway, with Estonia lying to its south across the Gulf of
Finland. Finland is a republic; the chief of state is the
president, and the head of government is the prime
minister.
 CAPITAL: Helsinki,
 Main religion: Evangelical Lutheran Church
 President: Sauli Niinistö(head of the state)
 prime minister: Petteri Orpo
 SPECIALIZATION:
• Finland is known for its diverse economic activities and has
developed specializations in several key sectors. Here are some
areas where Finland has a notable economic specialization:
• Technology and Innovation:
Nokia, which was a global leader in mobile phones. Finland has
also gained a reputation for its expertise in telecommunications,
electronics, and information technology
• Forest Industry:
The forest industry has historically been a significant part of
Finland's economy. The country has abundant forest resources,
and forestry-related activities
• Design and Architecture:
Finland has a strong tradition in design and architecture.
• Clean Energy and Environmental Technology:
Finland places a strong emphasis on sustainability and
environmental technology. Metal and Engineering Industries: o .
The country is known for its expertise in manufacturing
machinery, equipment, and metal products
• Healthcare and Biotechnology:
Finland has a well-developed healthcare sector and is actively
involved in biotechnology research
• Education and Research:
Finland places a strong emphasis on education and research.
• Food Industry:
The food industry is another important sector in Finland. The
country is known for its high-quality food products, including
dairy, fish, and agricultural products. Finnish food exports have
gained recognition for their quality and safety standards.
COLD WAR
A cold war is a state of conflict between nations that does not involve direct military action
but is pursued primarily through economic and political actions, propaganda, acts of
espionage or proxy wars waged by surrogates.
• Finland maintained a policy of neutrality and sought to balance its relations between the
Western and Eastern blocs. Finland and the Soviet Union had a complex and delicate
relationship during the Cold War, but there wasn't a direct military conflict between them
during this period.
The most significant historical event related to Finland and the Soviet Union occurred
during the Winter War (1939-1940) and the Continuation War (1941-1944).
 Winter War:
In the Winter War, the Soviet Union attacked Finland,
seeking territorial concessions. The war ended with the
Moscow Peace Treaty in 1940, which resulted in Finland
ceding certain territories to the Soviet Union.
 Continuation War:
During the Continuation War, Finland, having been invaded
by the Soviet Union again when the Germans invaded the
Soviet Union, sought to regain some of the lost territories.
Finland made a separate peace with the Soviet Union in
1944. The Moscow Armistice and subsequent treaties
resulted in Finland losing more territory, but it preserved its
independence.
 Finlandization:
In the post-war period, Finland adopted a policy of
neutrality and sought to maintain good relations with its
powerful neighbor, the Soviet Union. This policy, known as
"Finlandization," involved avoiding alignment with NATO
and refraining from policies perceived as threatening by the
Soviet Union. Despite this, Finland retained its
independence and a market-oriented economy.
• Finland's pragmatic and non-confrontational approach
allowed it to develop economic and cultural ties with both
the West and the East during the Cold War. Finland
managed to maintain its sovereignty while building a
prosperous and stable society
Reasons of the Cold War
• Geographic Proximity :
Being situated on the border of the Soviet Union, Finland’s geographical proximity
made it a strategic region of interest.
• Finnish Independence and Neutrality :
Finland’s independence and neutrality posed a challenge to the expansionist
ambitions of the Soviet Union.
• Soviet Union’s Desire for Territorial Control :
The Soviet Union sought to establish control over neighboring territories, including
Finland, as part of its security strategy.
• Differences and Ideological Conflict :
The political differences and ideological conflict between Finland and the Soviet
Union fueled tensions during the Cold War period.
Results of the cold war
• Finland independence :
Finland maintained its independence during the cold war. Although Finland was already
independent it was under the influence of the soviet union during the cold war however
Finland protected its independence through its neutrality policy and diplomatic efforts.
• Neutrality policy :
Finland followed its neutrality policy and did not become a part of any military alliances. This
allowed Finland to stay separate from the conflicts of other countries and maintain its
independent identity.
• Diplomatic policy
Finland used its diplomatic skills and efforts to maintain its independence and sovereignty.
By following its neutrality policy Finland positioned its self as a neutral player among their
nations and maintained control over its internal affairs.
 Result cont.…..
• Not a member of military alliances :
Finland did not join any military alliances during the cold war Finland followed a
policy of neutrality and did not become a part of alliances like NATO (north Atlantic
treaty organization) or the Warsaw pact. which gave it the freedom to develop its
own political and economic systems without direct interference
• Democratic system and economic stability
Finland was able to preserve its democratic system and maintain economic stability
during the cold war ensuring the well being of its citizens
 Impact of the cold war
• The cold war has a significant impact on both the soviet union and Finland
 In the soviet union the cold war resulted in a political climate of intense ideological
competition and the suppression of dissent the country allocated a significant portion of
its country allocated a significant portion of is resources to military development leading
to an arms race with the united states. This had a profound impact on the soviet
economy diverting resources away from other sectors
 For Finland the cold war presented a delicate balancing act the country pursued a policy
of neutrality aiming to avoid alignment with either the western or eastern bloc. However
due to its proximity to the soviet union Finland had to navigate the pressures and
influence exerted by its powerful neighbor
Thank