Finland is one of the Nordic countries, whose support for the liberation of South Africa from apartheid has been acclaimed. But Finland has often dragged its feet on South African policies, partly because of a generally cautious foreign policy, partly because of the influence of the paper and the pulp industry. Only an active public opinion mobilisation and trade union actions have moved the Finnish foreign policy establishment into isolation of the apartheid regime.
The author has made the first comprehensive study of Finnish policies on South Africa, covering the post-war period. It gives valuable insights not only into the policies on South Africa, but also is well-documented study of how foreign policy is formed in Finland.