[alrs]

Finland is a young country. It didn't exist before 1917.

Though not technically behind the iron curtain, Finland was largely a Soviet client from the end of WWII.

http://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=257979

Subtract the time Finland spent under Soviet domination, and then subtract its years in the EU, and Finland has only been a truly independent actor from 1917-1939 and then from 1991-1995.

[pekk]

It doesn't seem reasonable to compare EU membership to Soviet domination - apart from the values involved, just thinking about the degree of intervention or control.

[alrs]

I'm making no criticism of Finland. The parent was looking for a technologically advanced country to step up and be to networking gear as Switzerland (was) to banking.

I pointed out that Finland is in a more precarious position than people realize.