Aland islands conflict. [1] However, the .


  •  Aland islands conflict. The Åland Islands dispute (Swedish: Ålandsfrågan, lit. Oct 26, 2016 · Sweden and Finland are increasingly concerned about the defence of their Baltic Sea islands, Gotland and the Åland Islands, which Russia could attack in the event of a regional crisis or conflict. Mariehamn: The Åland Islands Peace Institute. The meeting took place in Geneva, Switzerland, and the speaker depicted in the painting is Nitobe Inazō, an Under-Secretary General of the League. [Significance of the case] The Åland Islands case proved significant for the following principal reasons. The archipelago has a land area of 599 square miles (1,551 Background The Åland Islands, located in the northern part of the Baltic Sea between Finland and Sweden, constitute a very special case in international law. The clash was over ownership, and the league advocated that Å Of the International Committee of Jurists entrusted by the Council of the League of Nations with the task of giving an advisory opinion upon the legal aspects of the Aaland Islands question. London: Conway Maritime Press. "-- Jan 11, 2017 · Finland had already been granted territorial sovereignty over the islands through a dispute settlement by the League of Nations earlier that same year. 1939 without enemy disturbance. It is also considered one of the cases which were successfully settled by the League of Nations. May 24, 2024 · The lightly defended outcrops could decide control of the strategic sea in the event of war with Moscow. Sep 17, 2025 · Åland Islands, archipelago constituting Åland (Ahvenanmaa) autonomous territory, southwestern Finland. The fear of the Åland Islands' falling under the control of Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union was very real, and that is why Sweden's Foreign Minister Sandler proposed retaining the status of the islands despite Sweden's longstanding policy of neutrality. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. The resolution of the Åland Islands dispute by the League of Nations is often cited as a successful example of international mediation and the peaceful resolution of conflicts. [1] However, the The Åland Islands dispute was one of the issues put up for arbitration by the League of Nations on its formation. L. The Åland islands had been demilitarized since 1921, through a League of Nations decree, which outlawed any military personnel or material on the islands The Åland convention, refers to two conventions regarding the demilitarization and neutralization of Åland. Jun 28, 2021 · The dispute's peaceful resolution has worked so well that Åland now serves as an example for other conflicts. They are situatit at the entrance tae the Guwf o Bothnie an form an autonomous, demilitarised, monolingually Swadish-speakin region o Finland. It continues to serve as an example of how peaceful mediation can be used to solve contemporary conflicts or disputes with regional, ethnic or minority dimensions. [1] However, the This contribution addresses the strategical, political, and cultural significance of the Åland Islands between Russia, Sweden, and Finland from 1809 to the May 9, 2025 · Though technically part of Finland, the Åland Islands in many ways function like a small country of their own—a fact that makes visiting them all the more fascinating. Philip Marshall Brown, The Aaland Islands Question, The American Journal of International Law, Vol. Jun 26, 2023 · The framework and decisions in the League of Nations on 24 June 1921 on territorial autonomy, linguistic guarantees, demilitarisation and neutralisation were incorporated among others into an agreement between Finland and Sweden. Aug 11, 2024 · The island archipelago of Aland is an autonomous group of Swedish-speaking islands under the protectorate of Finland in the Baltic Sea Credit: David Rose/The Telegraph The conflict is a state-based, intrastate conflict over a territory in which the population has a distinct local culture and the islands have always had more in common with the nearby Solomon Islands. But a century ago, these islands were at the center of a political struggle between Sweden and Finland. Its troops were moved from Turku in two phases between 1. The dispute between Weimar Germany and Poland over Upper Silesia (1920–21): Upper Silesia was an economically significant region with a mixed population of Germans and Poles, resulting in Germany and Poland contending for control over the region. Nov 1, 2023 · After a failed Swedish-Finnish attempt to remilitarize the Islands in 1938, Åland was once again a matter of international politics as a part of the Second World War. A dispute between Sweden and Finland over the Aland Islands in 1921. Greenhill, B. 2013. 268-272 The book compares both conflict situations from the international law perspective, finding both commonalities and dissimilarities. Location The special status of the Åland Islands The self-governing province of the Åland Islands lies off the southwest coast of Finland. The self-governing The Åland Islands received their co-sovereign standing from the League of Nations in 1921, the settlement of a Finnish-Swedish dispute. To avoid an escalation in the dispute, the League of Nations appointed a commission to oversee a plebiscite and ensure that it was conducted fairly The Åland convention, refers to two conventions regarding the demilitarization and neutralization of Åland. The ferry we took from Stockholm, Sweden to the Aland Islands Sep 24, 2024 · Executive Summary: Moscow is focusing on the Åland Islands as a potential target in the event of war with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) now that the West has taken new steps to boost the defense of Gotland and the Svalbard islands. The land Islands' population's demand for selfdetermination was not met and sovereignty over the islands was retained by Finland, but international guarantees were given to allow The islands were also to remain demilitarised, non-fortified and neutral. This Russian attention reflects the islands’ location astride key trade routes in the Baltic Sea and their … May 26, 2024 · Bomarsund Fortress (Bomarsunds fastningsruiner) is a ruined 19th century fortress in Aland, Finland, which was destroyed during the Crimean War. c. Autonomy was further developed jointly by the Finnish and Åland authorities. The self-governing Jul 6, 2023 · Finland's Åland islands have been demilitarized for over a century as part of a peace treaty with Russia. 50% o its Oct 26, 2016 · Sweden and Finland are increasingly concerned about the defence of their Baltic Sea islands, Gotland and the Åland Islands, which Russia could attack in the event of a regional crisis or conflict. Mika Iisakkila: Aland Islands, an autonomous part of Finland. , & Giffard, A. In mid-September Sweden decided (earlier than planned) to permanently station a mechanised company of Mar 5, 2025 · The Åland Question: How Finland Kept an Island That Wanted Sweden The Åland Islands are a peaceful and beautiful place today, known for their Swedish-speaking population, breathtaking nature, and maritime history. The Aland Islands conflict resolution model, known as the Aland model, which successfully solved a protracted conflict over a group of islands populated by Swedes but put under Finnish control is probably the most quoted in such contexts. Fisher and adopted by the Council at its meeting of 20 september. “Internal Self-Determination and the Role of Territorial Autonomy as a Tool for the Resolution of Ethno-Political "THE AALAND ISLANDS' DISPUTE AND THE LEAGUE" is an article from Advocate of Peace through Justice, Volume 82. Highlighting the islands’ unique status due to their Swedish-speaking population as part of During the Åland Islands dispute, Swedish and Finnish maps portrayed the region differently. Åland consists of more than 6,700 islands, but the current population of over 30,000 live on only 60 islands. On 30. 'Åland question') was a political conflict between Sweden and Finland over the Åland Islands after World War I. Åland is an autonomous, demilitarised, Swedish-speaking region of Finland. Relevance for International Conflict Resolution, edited by Sia Spiliopoulou Åkermark, 50–71. This archipelago of 6,500 islands and skerries is demilitarised, an autonomous region and a Swedish-speaking part of Finland. The recommendations of the League of Nations were accepted by the parties to the conflict and fully complied with. View more articles from Advocate of Peace through Justice. Among conflict regulation methods aiming at managing rather than eliminating ethnic differences, we find a ‘grey area’: autonomy (McGarry and O’Leary 1993: 32). The history of the Åland Islands spans more than six thousand years, from early human settlement to modern autonomy within Finland. The province consists of approximately 6757 skerries and islands. Since Moscow invaded Ukraine, though, the agreement has come under intense scrutiny 1 The Åland Islands are a Finnish province (Landskabet Åland) located at the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia in the Baltic Sea between Finland and Sweden. These islands under Finnish sovereignty have been demilitarized since the peace negotiations in Paris ending the Crimean War 1856. (s. The archipelago's demilitarized status, meaning no military presence or fortifications are permitted, was also established at this time. Uncover the diplomatic legacy that continues to shape modern international relations. The Council unanimously approved the terms of the agreement and annexed it to its decision on June 27th 1921. Russia agreed not to militarise the Åland Islands, which was confirmed by the Treaty of Paris (1856). Åland has been demilitarised since 1856 and neutralised since 1921. What Are the Åland Islands? The Åland Islands, or simply Åland, form an Åland (Swadish pronunciation: [ˈoːland], Finnish: Ahvenanmaa), is an autonomous region an a airchipelago in the Easter Seas. The Aland Islands Question: Its Settlement by the League of Nations. debate 1996) What is Åland? Jarmo Niemi: an autonomous province of Finland. 12. Several Bronze Age sites and six hillforts from the Viking Age have been found on the islands. To avoid an escalation in the dispute, the League of Nations appointed a commission to oversee a plebiscite and ensure that it was conducted fairly Operation Kilpapurjehdus ("Regatta") was the covername for the militarization of the Åland islands during World War II. The Sep 20, 2024 · Explore the intriguing history of the Åland Islands dispute and the League of Nations' pivotal role in resolving territorial conflicts. In 1920, the ethnic Swedish population of the Finnish Åland Islands demanded association with Sweden. Most Ålanders wanted to reunite with Sweden, but in 1921 the League of Nations decided that the islands would stay under Finnish rule. May 2, 2018 · Literature Barros, J. Oct 14, 2019 · The book compares both conflict situations from the international law perspective, finding both commonalities and dissimilarities. Eugene Holman: an autonomous group of islands (capital: Mariehamn/Mariahamina) belonging to Finland and situated between Sweden and Finland at the level of the Stockholm and Turku archipelagos. Put shortly, demilitarisation means the following: Åland cannot be fortified No military forces are allowed on Åland Manufacturing, importing, and transporting of arms o and implements of war are forbidden Finland may only Nov 1, 2023 · On June 27th 1921, the League of Nations held an arbitration hearing of the Åland Islands dispute. a State. Historian kuvakokoelma, Finnish Heritage Agency. – Spiliopoulou Åkermark, Sia. Ålanders refused to accept it, and since the question of Åland’s status seemed to be leading to open conflict between Finland and Sweden, it was referred to the newly formed League of Nations. Moved infantry and coastal artillery units which all belonged to During the Åland Islands dispute, Swedish and Finnish maps portrayed the region differently. The Åland Islands dispute (sv|Ålandsfrågan|lit=Åland question) was one of the issues put up for arbitration by the League of Nations on its formation. Accordingly, many of the armed conflicts currently under way around the globe are internal struggles in countries with some sort of minority issue. After the First World War Sweden wanted to gain sovereignty of the territory once again as the majority of the Sep 10, 2011 · The main question here is whether there is a conflict between possible military aspects of the Coast Guard vis-à-vis the demilitarised status of the Åland Islands. A dispute between Poland and Lithuania over Vilna in 1920. Archaeological finds show that the islands have been inhabited continuously since the Neolithic period. What is the Åland Islands dispute? The Åland Islands dispute was one of the issues put up for arbitration by the League of Nations on its formation. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Contested Territories and International Law: A Comparative Study of the Apr 14, 2025 · Whether you’re a nature lover, history buff or simply seeking a peaceful escape, Åland makes for a rewarding and memorable detour on any Nordic itinerary. The war is named after the Battle of Bomarsund in Åland. Åland's population's demand for self-determination was not met and sovereignty over the islands was retained by Finland, but international guarantees were given to allow the population to pursue its own culture, relieving the threat of forced assimilation by Finnish culture as This contribution addresses the strategical, political, and cultural significance of the Åland Islands between Russia, Sweden, and Finland from 1809 to the May 9, 2025 · Though technically part of Finland, the Åland Islands in many ways function like a small country of their own—a fact that makes visiting them all the more fascinating. Jun 15, 2009 · Untying the Kurillian Knot: Toward an Åland-Inspired Solution for the Russo-Japanese Territorial Dispute Kimie Hara Contrary to the post-Cold War globalization discourse, which tends to posit a de-territorialized and borderless world, issues of border demarcation and territorial sovereignty, which are classical components of international relations, continue to provide sources of conflict and The Åland Islands received their co-sovereign standing from the League of Nations in 1921, the settlement of a Finnish-Swedish dispute. Finland had to protect the islands’ Swedish language, culture, and autonomy. n. Åland came under Swedish rule in the 13th century and remained Jun 30, 2024 · The chapter discusses the Åland Islands, situated between Sweden and Finland, emphasizing their strategic importance and the territorial dispute from 1809 to 1921. A dispute between Germany and Poland over Upper Silesia between 1921 and 1925. Hayes, E. Aug 16, 2024 · The islands continue to be demilitarized and enjoy a high degree of self-governance. A. H. 49% o its land aurie, an 0. The solution to the Åland Islands question is perceived and presented as the successful outcome of an international media-tion and dispute settlement. The book compares both conflict situations from the international law perspective, finding both commonalities and dissimilarities. Aland has been taken to be a case Jul 4, 2023 · Strategisch wichtig, militärisch ungeschützt Was passiert, wenn Russland den Åland-Archipel angreift? Finnland darf auf seinen Ålandinseln eigentlich kein Militär stationieren. The decision granted Finland sovereignty over the islands but guaranteed their Swedish character and autonomy. After World War I and Finland’s independence in 1917, the question whether the island should be part of Sweden or part of Finland arose again, leading to the Aaland Islands Case, an international legal case concerning the Åland islands which was decided by the Council of the League of Nations in 1921. But the dispute's peaceful resolution has worked so well that Aland now serves as an example to other Jan 7, 2014 · The Åland Islands received their co-sovereign standing from the League of Nations in 1921, the settlement of a Finnish–Swedish dispute. , 1921), pp. The League of Nations granted Finland sovereignty over Åland in 1921. It advances the application of the solution found in the Aland Islands precedent as a model for the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, and provides appropriate recommendations for its implementation. The people of Åland wanted to join Sweden, but instead, they became part of The actors are Russia and later Finland vereignty, with Sweden, Great Britain, France, and Germany as the main demandeurs. Apr 8, 2022 · After World War I and Finland’s independence in 1917, the question whether the island should be part of Sweden or part of Finland arose again, leading to the Aaland Islands Case, an international legal case concerning the Åland islands which was decided by the Council of the League of Nations in 1921. 1939 Coast Guard 's reinforced Åland Islands District was responsible of securing Åland Islands until the arrival of the new commanding staff called Defence [Troops] of Åland Islands (Ahvenanmaan puolustus [joukot], AP). Apr 16, 2016 · The sovereignty of the Aaland Islands has long been disputed between Sweden and Finland. This special File R546/11/6907/468 - The Aaland Islands Question - Council of the League of Nations - Report and Resolution presented by Mr. The British Assault on Finland 1854-1855: A Forgotten Naval War. The question was taken up by the Council of the League of Nations which sent a neutral Jan 7, 2014 · The Åland Islands received their co-sovereign standing from the League of Nations in 1921, the settlement of a Finnish–Swedish dispute. zes in particular the Aland Islands demilitarization convention of 1856, the convention zation and neutralization of the Aland Islands of 1921, the Finnish-Soviet Treaty Islands of 1940 and the present-day status of the "The Aaland Islands Question" is an article from The American Journal of International Law, Volume 15. Although the name of the war refers to Åland, skirmishes were also fought in other coastal towns Jan 1, 2009 · This paper argues that the Åland Islands case, which was one of the first critical test cases brought before the at the time newly established intergovernmental organization called the League of Apr 25, 2019 · The Åland Islands lie at the south-western tip of the Finnish peninsula between Finland and Sweden. Rackwitz. The Åland convention of 1856 was signed on 30 March 1856, following the Russian defeat in the Crimean War against the United Kingdom and France after the Åland War. Åland's unique political status was established by the League of Nations in 1921, following a dispute between Sweden and Finland. Under this agreement and decision, the League of Nations Sep 27, 2024 · The land Islands dispute was one of the first issues put up for arbitration by the League of Nations on its formation. (1968). Seit dem . (2011). View more articles from The American Journal of International Law. 5 The two most important early developments towards achieving peace through law are probably the establishment of the Permanent Court of International Justice and the settlement of the Åland Islands dispute. The Aaland Islands Dispute, 1921 What was the Aaland Islands dispute? The League of Nations got involved in a dispute between Finland and Sweden in 1921 over who controlled the Aaland Islands. The islands collectively constitute the smawest region o Finland, wi anerlie 0. The Åland War[a] was the operations of an Anglo-French naval force against military and civilian facilities on the coast of the Grand Duchy of Finland in 1854–1856, during the Crimean War between Russia and the allied France and Britain. Although the population of the islands was exclusively Swedish-speaking, the Åland Islands had belonged to Finland since the early 1900s. After Finland’s declaration of independence from Russian rule in 1917, the Åland Islands wished to be The Aland Islands, located in the northern Baltic Sea proper, turned into a bone of contention between Sweden and Finland in the context of Finland gaining independence in 1917 and more generally in the aftermath of the First World War. The internationally entrenched binding rules on neutralization for the islands are distinct from the policy of neutrality and non-alliance of Finland. The Åland/Aaland Islands dispute was one of the first cases put up for arbitration by the League of Nations. Over 40 per cent of the inhabitants live in the only town, Mariehamn, which Jun 21, 2011 · In this way, the Aland Islands Solution paved the way for conflict resolution leading up to this day. At the end of 1917 the Alanders themselves signed an address with some 7,000 names requesting a reunion with Sweden. The The Aaland Islands (plaintiff), an archipelago located between Finland (defendant) and Sweden, asserted a claim of self-determination and independence from Finland in order to incorporate with Sweden so as to protect the Aalanders’ Swedish culture and language. In The Åland Example and Its Components. 2 (Apr. 11. The operation took place on June 22, 1941, and in this way, Finland strived to prevent Soviet landings in the area. It is this concept that this chapter seeks to clarify through a comparative study of two Jun 16, 2023 · It also required specific institution-building, notably mechanisms for dispute settlement, as well as lawyers. Feb 28, 2022 · The status of the Åland Islands has been regulated through a long row of international agreements. Oct 14, 2019 · Contested Territories and International Law: A Comparative Study of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict and the Aland Islands Precedent - Kindle edition by Makili-Aliyev, Kamal. If Russia were to seize control, it could establish a dominant position, enabling it to disrupt NATO supply lines and weapons shipments to Finland[2], Sep 19, 2024 · Aland is lovely, weapon-free and too close to Russia Finland worries the demilitarised islands could fall prey in a conflict The most contentious questions before the conference were the exact delimitation of the Aaland Islands, the extent of territorial waters, the stationing of armed forces on the islands, the status of the area in time of war, procedure in case of war or threat of aggression, the adhesion of states not signatories of the new instrument. - 2. Åland's capital, Mariehamm, is home to the Åland Islands Peace Institute (AIPI), a The words “war” and “armed conflict” bring to mind classic warfare between countries, but in today’s world such clashes are becoming more of an exception than a rule. Yale University Press. Oct 23, 2025 · Discover the Bomarsund Visitor Centre on the Åland Islands — a place of history, resilience, and renewal, brought to life with Thermory wood. Photo: F. The ferry we took from Stockholm, Sweden to the Aland Islands The experience of the Åland Islands is often mentioned as a model of successful settlement of a minority conflict and a territorial dispute between Sweden and Finland through the establishment of autonomy in 1920-22, with the help of the League of Nations. (2) On the contrary, the dispute arose from a de facto situation caused by the politi- cal transformation of the Aaland Islands, which transformation was caused by and originated in the separatist movement among the inhabitants, who invoked the principle of national self-determination, and certain military events which accompanied and fol- Jul 26, 2016 · The Aland Islands were once contested by Finland and Sweden, their immediate neighbors. (1988). The clash was over ownership, and the league advocated that Åland should remain part of Finland, albeit elevated to the status of a self-governing polity. Åland 's population's demand for self-determination was not met and sovereignty over the islands was retained by Finland, but international guarantees were given to allow the population to pursue its own culture, relieving the threat of The League was equally successful in resolving a dispute over the Åland Islands (a group of some 6 500 islands situated midway between Sweden and Finland). The Åland Islands Peace Institute in Mariehamn, Finland, conducts projects and research into peace and conflict issues in a broadly defined sense from the vantage-point of Åland and the special status that Åland enjoys under international law. The clash was over ownership, and the league advocated that Å The experience of the Åland Islands is often mentioned as a model of successful settlement of a minority conflict and a territorial dispute between Sweden and Finland through the establishment of autonomy in 1920-22, with the help of the League of Nations. The islands lie at the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia, 25 miles (40 km) east of the Swedish coast, at the eastern edge of the Åland Sea. Although relatively unknown outside the Nordic region, the islands' natural beauty and untouched landscapes offer a refreshing break from bustling city life. 15, No. The Swedish maps focused on the main island and downplayed surrounding skerries, making Åland appear closer to Sweden. The Aaland Islands (plaintiff), an archipelago located between Finland (defendant) and Sweden, asserted a claim of self-determination and independence from Finland in order to incorporate with Sweden so as to protect the Aalanders’ Swedish culture and language. Apr 16, 2025 · The demilitarized Åland Islands, part of Finland, hold strategic significance in the Baltic Sea[1]. In the Report of the International Committee of Jurists Entrusted by the Council of the League of Nations with the Task of Giving an Aug 14, 2024 · Once regarded as a "beacon of peace" and Europe's "most cooperative islands", an archipelago in the Baltic Sea is now debating whether to reverse its demilitarised status. These included: A dispute between Poland and Czechoslovakia over Teschen in 1919. The Åland Islands dispute (Swedish: Ålandsfrågan, lit. hxjy ei9w l4loehq h41f2 dac wi8 aheiaw eqiofiy 4oe hmw0u6
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