Analysis: New security threats expose gaps in Finland’s preparedness

The role of communities has received limited attention in Finland’s preparedness work. New types of crises and security threats reveal that societal resilience must increasingly be built on interaction, trust and learning together.

These conclusions are presented in Sitra’s working paper Trust in Finland’s future – How can we build societal security in these turbulent times? (in Finnish, summary in English). Alongside the publication, a set of recommendations calls for a broader approach to strengthening societal security. The recommendations have been developed together with more than 50 experts from across different sectors of society.

The publication’s core message is that while psychological crisis resilience lies at the heart of Finland’s comprehensive security model, it is still too narrowly understood as an individual trait rather than a collective capacity.

According to a recent survey, there is a clear need to strengthen interaction within communities. More than a quarter of Finns feel their personal resources are weak, and nearly four in ten do not trust society’s ability to overcome major challenges (e2 & Noorstat 2026).

A concrete example of new types of security threats that put psychological resilience to the test are the drones that have fallen in Finland.

“Alongside questions related to air surveillance, the drone debate also prompted reflection on how people act – or should act – in situations where the threat is new, information emerges gradually and interpretations take shape rapidly in public discussion,” says Jukka Vahti, Senior Lead at Sitra and editor of the working paper.

The analysis therefore calls for a broader understanding of security. The blind spots in the security debate – our ability to withstand crises, our capacity to navigate a changing information environment, and the level of trust in society – are essential elements of societal security.

Working group calls for a stronger role for communities

Finland’s state-level preparedness for crises is strong. However, current discussions on preparedness place a heavy emphasis on individual responsibility, such as households’ own contingency planning.

At the same time, research evidence highlights that a society’s psychological crisis resilience does not rest solely on individuals or state actions. Rather, it is fundamentally a characteristic of communities.

To strengthen the role of communities in crisis resilience, the working group recommends more robust action to address polarisation and inequality, as well as systematic monitoring through indicators and assessment tools. In addition, the group calls for the wider institutionalisation of participatory models, such as citizens’ panels, in decision-making and policy preparation.

Trust is the cornerstone of societal security

The comprehensive security model becomes vulnerable if trust erodes, as trust is the cornerstone of societal security, notes Sini Erholtz, Senior Specialist at the Ministry of the Interior.

“Some groups in our population experience exclusion, young people feel less secure than the population on average, and trust in political decision-making has declined. Over time, these trends pose a risk to societal security.”

Leena Malkki, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Helsinki, emphasises that alongside traditional ‘hard’ security, it is vital to ask how Finland’s societal foundations of comprehensive security are holding up.

“It is now essential to develop a shared understanding of the developments shaping Finnish society and how they are undermining the foundations of a trust-based society. These questions are particularly significant at a time marked by declining trust, growing polarisation and diverging realities,” Malkki says.

Background

The working paper Trust in Finland’s future brings together key insights and lessons on strengthening societal security and trust. The work is the result of the Future Forum on Societal Security, led jointly by Sitra, the University of Helsinki and the Ministry of the Interior. The findings are based on joint analysis, scenario work and workshops involving more than 50 experts, decision-makers and societal actors.

The working paper focuses on three areas that often remain in the blind spot of security discussions: psychological crisis resilience, sustainable information environments, and institutions that underpin trust.

In connection with the publication, the Future Forum on Societal Security has also prepared a set of recommendations for societal actors. The recommendations were edited by Jouni Mölsä and Riku Siivonen. Sitra will also publish scenario-based tools and launch a funding call to strengthen psychological crisis resilience.