DISSERTATIONES RERUM MARIA GROENEVELD POLITICARUM UNIVERSITATIS TARTUENSIS 7 The role of the state and society relationship in the foreign policy making process in the foreign of the state and society relationship The role MARIA GROENEVELD The role of the state and society relationship in the foreign policy making process Tartu 2012 ISSN 1736–4205 ISBN 978–9949–32–174–2 DISSERTATIONES RERUM POLITICARUM UNIVERSITATIS TARTUENSIS 7 DISSERTATIONES RERUM POLITICARUM UNIVERSITATIS TARTUENSIS 7 MARIA GROENEVELD The role of the state and society relationship in the foreign policy making process Institute of Government and Politics, Faculty of Social Sciences and Education, University of Tartu, Estonia Dissertation was accepted for the commencement of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (in Political Science) on 1 November 2012 by the Council of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Education, University of Tartu. Supervisors: Prof. Andres Kasekamp, University of Tartu, Estonia Dr. Alexander Astrov, Central European University, Hungary Opponent: Prof. Hiski Haukkala, University of Tampere, Finland Commencement: 3 December 2012 Publication of this thesis is granted by the Institute of Government and Politics, University of Tartu and by the Doctoral School of Behavioural, Social and Health Sciences created under the auspices of the European Union Social Fund. ISSN 1736–4205 ISBN 978–9949–32–174–2 (print) ISBN 978–9949–32–175–9 (pdf) Copyright: Maria Groeneveld, 2012 University of Tartu Press www.tyk.ee Order No 559 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................... 8 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................... 9 CHAPTER 1. STATE AND SOCIETY RELATIONSHIP IN CONSTRUCTIVISM ............................................................................... 16 1.1. Rationalist approaches of International Relations ............................. 16 1.2. Constructivist approach of International Relations ........................... 19 1.2.1. Systemic constructivism ......................................................... 22 1.2.2. Societal constructivism ........................................................... 24 1.2.3. The state and society relationship ........................................... 26 1.3. Methodology ..................................................................................... 31 1.3.1. Case selection ......................................................................... 32 1.3.2. Data collection and sampling texts ......................................... 34 1.3.3. Analysing the data .................................................................. 35 CHAPTER 2. ESTONIA’S FOREIGN POLICY DECISION IN AUTUMN 1939 ............................................................................................ 37 2.1. Introduction ....................................................................................... 37 2.2. Estonia’s foreign policy in 1939 ....................................................... 37 2.2.1. Demands ................................................................................. 39 2.2.2. Government’s decision on demands ....................................... 40 2.2.3. Balancing the threat ................................................................ 42 2.3. How-possible? ................................................................................... 44 CHAPTER 3 DOMINANT SOCIETAL DISCOURSES IN ESTONIA ................................................................................................. 48 3.1. The emergence, development and interaction between the main dominant discourses ......................................................................... 48 3.1.1. Introduction ............................................................................ 48 3.1.2. Understandings on the state and society relationship ............. 53 3.2. Radical-nationalist discourse ............................................................. 55 3.2.1. Strong societal support for the Veterans’ idea of a strong president ................................................................................ 58 3.3. Collectivist-nationalist discourse ...................................................... 61 3.3.1. The development of the discourse into state discourse ........... 61 3.3.2. Characteristics of the discourse .............................................. 65 3.4. Liberal individualism ........................................................................ 68 3.5. Conclusion ......................................................................................... 71 CHAPTER 4. THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS IN ESTONIA IN AUTUMN 1939 ............................................................................................ 73 4.1. Social construction of the decision-maker ........................................ 74 4.1.1. President Päts as the primary decision-maker ....................... 74 4.1.2. State design ........................................................................... 75 5 4.1.3. Understandings of the decision-making and state and society relationship ................................................................ 79 4.1.4. Conclusion .............................................................................. 83 4.2. Institutional practices ........................................................................ 84 4.3. Decision-making process in 1939 ..................................................... 88 4.3.1. Decision-making in 1939 ........................................................ 88 4.3.2. Conclusion .............................................................................. 92 4.4. Conclusion of the case study ............................................................. 92 4.4.1. How-possible reversed ........................................................... 93 CHAPTER 5. FINLAND’S FOREIGN POLICY DECISION IN 1939 .......................................................................................................... 95 5.1. Introduction ....................................................................................... 95 5.1.1. Finland’s foreign policy in 1939 ............................................ 96 5.1.2. Demands ................................................................................. 97 5.1.3. Policy after receiving the demands ......................................... 99 5.1.4. Increasing external pressures .................................................. 100 5.2. How was Finland’s foreign policy behaviour possible? .................... 102 CHAPTER 6. FINLAND’S SOCIETAL DISCOURSES ............................. 105 6.1. The emergence, development and interaction between the main dominant discourses in Finland ........................................................ 105 6.2. Constitutional-Conciliation debate .................................................... 106 6.2.1. Introduction ............................................................................ 106 6.2.2. Constitutional discourse ......................................................... 108 6.2.3. Conciliation side ..................................................................... 113 6.2.4. Conclusion .............................................................................. 116 6.3. White and Red Finland ...................................................................... 116 6.3.1. Introduction ............................................................................ 116 6.3.2. White Finland ......................................................................... 117 6.3.3. Red Finland ............................................................................ 121 6.3.4. Conclusion .............................................................................. 123 6.4. Radical-nationalism and the lawfulness front ................................... 123 6.4.1. Radical-nationalism ................................................................ 123 6.4.2. Academic Karelia Society ...................................................... 124 6.4.3. Lapua movement .................................................................... 127 6.4.4. Lawfulness front ..................................................................... 128 6.5. Conclusion ......................................................................................... 129 CHAPTER 7. DECISION-MAKING PROCESS IN FINLAND IN AUTUMN 1939 ....................................................................................... 132 7.1. Social construction of the decision-maker ........................................ 132 7.1.1. Foreign minister Erkko as the primary decision-maker ......... 133 7.1.2. Introduction ............................................................................ 134 7.1.3. The decision-maker’s understanding of the dominant societal discourses .............................................................................. 135 7.1.4. Erkko’s understandings on foreign policy .............................. 137 6 7.1.5. Erkko’s policy line in autumn 1939 ........................................ 140 7.1.6. Conclusion .............................................................................. 143 7.2. Domestic discourses and interactions between them regarding the decision-making in autumn 1939 ..................................................... 144 7.2.1. Understandings in the government ......................................... 144 7.2.2. Radical-nationalist