ABSTRACT
During the 1990s a large group of voluntary women's organizations has been established in the Republic of Karelia (Russian Karelia) in the Russian Federation. In neighbouring Finland, the history of many such organizations dates back to the 19th century. Regardless of this difference - or in some cases perhaps due to it - many Russian and Finnish organizations cooperate with each other although this activity has asymmetrical features. In part, these result from practical reasons, from availability of financial resources and visas, from the fact that Finns go to Russia more often than Russians to Finland. In part, questions of ideology and identity are also involved.
