ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the Finnish debate in all phases, paying special attention to the question of how its adaptation from traditional peacekeeping to the new concept has taken place. The comparison between the early debates and those of the post-cold war period reveals both continuities and discontinuities in Finnish foreign policy thinking. The first Finnish participation in peacekeeping did not last a year, but in the following years Finland indicated continued interest by sending a few officers as observers to the Lebanon and Kashmir operations. Over Cyprus the first major public debate about the merits of Finnish participation took place in both parliament and media. The new challenges in situations like Bosnia and Herzegovina necessitated changes to the Finnish legislation, because the existing law required the consent of the conflict parties. The positive self-image regarding the merits and comparative advantages of the Nordic and Finnish peacekeepers, cherished for decades, remains.
