Difference between revisions of "Maan tapa (Finland)"

Legally reprehensible links of ''maan tapa'' in Finland often have existed or exist in ''[[Hyvä Veli|hyvä veli]]'' networks. These follow on the ‘I scratch your back, you scratch mine’ basis. This term originates in the correspondence of old Swedish-speaking civil service, where letters typically started with ‘Dear brother’ (''‘Hyvä veli’''). But here, too, the connotations of the term changed in the course of history from neutral to critical and ironic ones when used in press and everyday language.  

Legally reprehensible links of ''maan tapa'' in Finland often have existed or exist in ''[[Hyvä Veli|hyvä veli]]'' networks. These follow on the ‘I scratch your back, you scratch mine’ basis. This term originates in the correspondence of old Swedish-speaking civil service, where letters typically started with ‘Dear brother’ (''‘Hyvä veli’''). But here, too, the connotations of the term changed in the course of history from neutral to critical and ironic ones when used in press and everyday language.  

The change in the use of the term reflects a changing reality. The Finnish law enforcement today seems alert in identifying problematic cases of ''maan tapa'' and bringing them to court. Academic research into ''maan tapa'' is still lacking, but since its meaning is linked to informal influence and corruption, research into corruption or administrative malpractice in Finland is relevant for its understanding (e.g. Salminen 2010<ref>Salminen, A. (ed.) 2010. Ethical governance: A citizen perspective. Vaasa: Vaasan yliopiston,

The change in the use of the term reflects a changing reality. The Finnish law enforcement today seems alert in identifying problematic cases of ''maan tapa'' and bringing them to court. Academic research into ''maan tapa'' is still lacking, but since its meaning is linked to informal influence and corruption, research into corruption or administrative malpractice in Finland is relevant for its understanding (e.g. Salminen 2010<ref>Salminen, A. (ed.) 2010. Ethical governance: A citizen perspective. Vaasa: Vaasan yliopiston,

Vaasa: Vaasan yliopiston, https://www.univaasa.fi/materiaali/pdf/isbn_978-952- 476-740- 8.pdf</ref>). Therefore, to address its nature, the future research on ''maan tapa'' should include studies of relevant historical lawsuits and their normative and public argumentation, studies on the use of the term in the media, and the development of indicators such as legal lawsuits statistics or relevance of ''maan tapa'' in various contexts.

Vaasa: Vaasan yliopiston, https://www.univaasa.fi/materiaali/pdf/isbn_978-952- 476-740- 8.pdf</ref>). Therefore, to address its nature, the future research on ''maan tapa'' should include studies of relevant historical lawsuits and their normative and public argumentation, studies on the use of the term in the media, and the development of indicators such as legal lawsuits statistics or relevance of ''maan tapa'' in various contexts.

''Maan tapa'' is the subject of Jarmo Korhonen’s book on funding of Finnish political parties (2015<ref name="korhonen">Korhonen, J. 2015. Maan tapa. Helsinki: Tammi</ref>, cf. Joutsen and Keränen 2009<ref>Joutsen, M. and Keränen, J. 2009. Corruption and prevention of corruption in Finland. Helsinki: Ministry of Justice</ref>). In Finland, as well as other European countries, there is a wealth of organisations attached to political parties. Some organisations attempt to influence them, also via financial scheming. Political funding often comes also from the business sector, sometimes via intermediaries, and is aimed at specific politicians, rather than political parties. Between 2000 and 2010, electoral funding was the subject of cases of litigation in which businessmen, typically men, were accused of bribing political parties and were condemned by district courts, yet subsequently acquitted in higher courts, either partly or completely. Korhonen, the secretary of the Centre Party between 2006 and 2010, was himself involved in lawsuits related to irregularities in financing the elections. In the book spanning 776 pages, he argues that all Finnish political parties have to some extent used financial scheming. Korhonen states that ‘''maan tapa'' describe[d] Finnish society in the 2000s’, and adds that ‘it is important for the reader to understand that the media was a part of maan tapa’ (Korhonen 2015: 7<ref name="korhonen" />). The media was implicated by selectively covering political lawsuits. While the back cover prominently linked ''maan tapa'' with corruption in Finland, Korhonen’s book did not receive any major attention and did not spur any legal action despite its detailed contents.  

''Maan tapa'' is the subject of Jarmo Korhonen’s book on funding of Finnish political parties (2015<ref name="korhonen">Korhonen, J. 2015. Maan tapa. Helsinki: Tammi</ref>, cf. Joutsen and Keränen 2009<ref>Joutsen, M. and Keränen, J. 2009. Corruption and prevention of corruption in Finland. Helsinki: Ministry of Justice</ref>). In Finland, as well as other European countries, there is a wealth of organisations attached to political parties. Some organisations attempt to influence them, also via financial scheming. Political funding often comes also from the business sector, sometimes via intermediaries, and is aimed at specific politicians, rather than political parties. Between 2000 and 2010, electoral funding was the subject of cases of litigation in which businessmen, typically men, were accused of bribing political parties and were condemned by district courts, yet subsequently acquitted in higher courts, either partly or completely. Korhonen, the secretary of the Centre Party between 2006 and 2010, was himself involved in lawsuits related to irregularities in financing the elections. In the book spanning 776 pages, he argues that all Finnish political parties have to some extent used financial scheming. Korhonen states that ‘''maan tapa'' describe[d] Finnish society in the 2000s’, and adds that ‘it is important for the reader to understand that the media was a part of maan tapa’ (Korhonen 2015: 7<ref name="korhonen" />). The media was implicated by selectively covering political lawsuits. While the back cover prominently linked ''maan tapa'' with corruption in Finland, Korhonen’s book did not receive any major attention and did not spur any legal action despite its detailed contents.