Finland needs a public debate about issues that concern national security that is not limited by hostility and harassment, but which includes challenging questions, tough debates and strongly diverging opinions. That is how freedom of expression is realised. Writers have an important role in this.
In September 2025 the international PEN network, which includes PEN centres in more than 100 countries, gathered in Krakow in Poland. The concerns of the gathered writers about global developments were reflected in for example the resolutions adopted at the congress, including one that expressed deep concerns about developments that threaten peace, democracy and human rights around the world (another noteworthy resolution condemned the assault on freedom of expression by the government of the United States). The resolution drew attention to the important and influential role of writers in opposing threatening developments and advancing justice and peace. Read the PEN congress resolutions here https://www.pen-international.org/news/pen-internationals-resolutions-2025.
In Finland there is cause to consider the role of writers in public debate that concerns national security. Following the start of Russia’s war of aggression against the Ukraine in 2022 Finland’s security context has changed very fast in a short time, with significant consequences for society as a whole.
Writers have an important position in advancing national security and democracy. Writers influence people’s opinions and shape public debate. Literature builds national identity and unity. Non-fiction writers help us to understand things. A free media and the work of journalists are essential for democracy.
The role of writers in public debate is particularly important now, because the rapid changes in the national security environment have created many new challenges. Finland needs an open and constructive societal debate, which includes a diversity of voices, about the new situation and its consequences.
The culture of public debate in crisis
Already before Russia attacked Ukraine the negative tone of public debate in Finland had caused widespread concern. Hateful speech and harassment of journalists and researchers were undermining the public debate. In his New Year’s speech in 2020 president Niinistö raised serious concerns about the national culture of debate, warning that “A culture of hate will not carry us far.” Read the speech here https://www.presidentti.fi/niinisto/en/speeches/president-of-the-republic-sauli-niinistos-new-years-speech-on-1-january-2020/index.html.
The state of public debate in Finland is no better today. In a survey by public broadcaster Yle in 2024 67 percent of respondents indicated that the culture of national debate has worsened. Willingness to engage in public debate had decreased markedly. Read about the survey in Finnish here https://yle.fi/aihe/a/20-10007813.
Threats to national security include attempts to undermine democracy through hostile influencing directed at deepening societal divisions. The crisis in the culture of public debate provides many opportunities for hostile influencing and strengthening divisions in society.
The right to free expression is often at the centre of public arguments. Instead of discussing freedom of expression as a democratic right that must be defended, issues related to free expression become something people who operate in the public sphere can use to gain attention.
Provocative statements and extreme cases usually get the attention in public discussions. This can create the impression that freedom of expression is an issue that belongs only to the loudest actors in the public sphere. But as we wrote in Helsingin Sanomat with PEN Finland’s vicepresident Laura Lindstedt, freedom of expression is a democratic right that belongs to everyone in Finland. Read our letter in Finnish here https://www.hs.fi/mielipide/art-2000011228112.html.
Pressures on writers
Even though the negative sides of the national culture of debate often affect those who work with writing, writers have an important position in improving societal debate. In Finland’s current circumstances it is even more important than before that writers are able to realise their democratic right to freedom of expression by participating freely in public debate.
Writers’ freedom of expression and participation in public debate is limited by a hostile atmosphere and harassment. For example harassment directed at non-fiction writers and researchers is recognised as a serious problem that affects public debate. PEN Finland’s partner the Committee for public information (TJNK) has proposed the establishment of a new national organisation with the task of supporting researchers and those acting in expert roles and defending their freedom of expression. Read about the recommendations here https://tjnk.fi/en/news/safeguarding-freedom-expression-researchers-and-experts-new-recommendations-research-community.
Writers are subject to many different types of pressure when national security is concerned. Writers influence and they are also influenced. It needs to be kept in mind that for example a journalist may unintentionally (or intentionally) be disseminating incorrect and misleading information that is being spread as part of hostile influencing.
Other types of pressure, which should be discussed openly, also affect writers. Joonas Koivukoski for example has investigated how Finnish journalists experience pressures related to “patriotic journalism” when the issue is Ukraine’s war. Some of those interviewed recognised a tendency, at least at times, for shades of grey to be lost, a lessening of the diversity of voices and opinions and conforming to the government agenda. The risk of being accused of conforming to Russia’s view, which can result in excessive caution, also came up. Koivukoski asks why our public culture would not be able to tolerate a more diverse and critical, including self-critical, discussion about foreign and security policy? Read the article in Finnish here https://www.tiedetoimittajat.fi/tiedekeskiviikko/mita-putin-oikeasti-aikoo-patriotismin-paine-suomalaisessa-sotajournalismissa/.
Finland needs a public debate about issues that concern national security that is not limited by hostility and harassment, but which includes challenging questions, tough debates and strongly diverging opinions. That is how freedom of expression is realised. Writers have an important role in this.
Joy Hyvärinen is president of PEN Finland.
