Calonia Research Day 2025

From the left: Mika Viljanen, Henri Vogt, Anu Koivunen, Anne Alvesalo-Kuusi, Kimmo Elo.

The day was kicked off with a panel discussion themed Threats to Democracy, constitutional state, justice and social peace – Responses from research(ers).

The panel was chaired by Professor Mika Viljanen, and the panelists were Professor Anne Alvesalo-Kuusi from the Faculty of Law, and Docent Kimmo Elo, Professor Anu Koivunen, and Professor Henri Vogt from the Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences.

According to Koivunen, we are currently seeing slow longitudinal developments that can prove out to be very negative in the future. Shaping the fundaments of democracy can happen slowly and invisibly.

– There is a rising disbelief in democracy, a perceived risk of tyranny of the majority. To understand this better, election studies and political science isn’t enough. We need cross-disciplinary research, because these phenomena are deeply embedded in the culture.

Democracy requires hope, a belief that a change can be made, Vogt said. Now, instead, there is a lot of scepticism and cynicism. From his viewpoint, it boils down to inequality and poverty.

– No one seems to believe in co-operation anymore. At a time where climate scientists say that there is no time left, hope for the future would be crucially important.

Vogt also referred to the Anne Applebaum recent book Autocracy Inc. where she explores the dynamic of autocratic global networking. Alvesalo-Kuusi mentioned an upcoming book she is co-writing on her long-standing area of interest, corporate crime.

– There are so many harmful asymmetries regarding corporate supremacy, that escape legal apparatus. States have often enabled businesses through lack of regulation.

Elo noted, that although democratic development around the world is worrisome, we are still far away from a catastrophe. His observation is, that there is a lot of worry over democracy, but not a lot of tools or ideas to defend it.

– We need, not just rhetoric, but concrete ways to strengthen democracy. For example, there is currently no discussion about how European Union should be developed in the long-term.

Elo has been working together with Alvesalo-Kuusi on the Lawpol research projest that recently published the Politiikkapöytä, a service to help understand backgrounds of political decision making. 

– Liberal democracy can be severely harmed without changing the constitution.

Koivunen brought up the role of press freedom and public broadcasting companies. In Finland Yle has recently undergone major cuts. The idea seems to be, that quality media is behind pay walls.

– What about the people who cannot afford that, and just rely on social media?

According to the Reporters Without Boarders 2025 Press Freedom Index only one percent of world population lives in countries where the situation of press freedom is good or excellent. The global state of press freedom is now classified as a “difficult situation” for the first time in the history of the Index.

– It is time to imagine, what is the like in a world with no journalistic mass media?

Viljanen also asked the panelists, where do they see hope regarding democracy and the rule of law?

– We could have started with points that work well. There is also a danger of exaggeration of the negative paths, that we need to be aware of, Vogt said.

He noted that in Finland, we still have a strong belief on institutions.

Koivunen pointed out, that there seems to be a lack of insight in the society, despite the fact that a lot of research exists on topics like the rise of authoritarianism, and freedom of the press. More impact is required, she said.

The conference continued with three different sessions led by Viljanen, Juho Aalto and Henni Parviainen, supervisory meetings, and a writing workshop facilitated by Yulia Dergacheva.