William Tyler
Finland: The Frontline Between East and West in the 20th and 21st Centuries
Summary
A look at Finland’s unique position in European and global history since its independence in 1917 to its 2023 membership in NATO.
William Tyler
William Tyler has spent his entire professional life in adult education, beginning at Kingsgate College in 1969. He has lectured widely for many public bodies, including the University of Cambridge and the WEA, in addition to speaking to many clubs and societies. In 2009, William was awarded the MBE for services to adult education, and he has previously been a scholar in residence at the London Jewish Cultural Centre.
Originally Catholic Orthodox, originally Catholic, and then converted by the Swedes to Protestantism. They become Christian, sort of a roundabout, the millennium, 1000, 1100, 1200, that sort of period.
Mostly in rural areas. What kind of jobs and economy did they have? Agriculture played an important part, but I mentioned timber. There’s ore, O-R-E in Finland as well. They develop, of course, ship building that there’s a range of things that they were involved in. There’s not one outstanding, this is not like Sweden with its manufacturing economy.
It’s Finnish Law. Oh, and probably not based on Russian, based on the old Swedish law. It’s very Western European. I know to yesterday, the Dean of Windsor referred to the king as defender of the face ignoring that Charles changed the defender of faiths. No, Charles can’t do that. That he said he would be chamber of defender of faiths because he takes a wider view, but he is the defender of faith in terms of the church of Finland. It’s what’s in the Constitution. What is going to be interesting is to watch what he does at the coronation. Remember, the funeral was organised by the Queen, whereas the coronation will not be organised by him, so watch his space.