The Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA) is an independent research institute affiliated with the Parliament of Finland. FIIA studies Finnish foreign policy, international politics, global economic relations and the European Union. In 2026, FIIA celebrates its 65th anniversary. You can read more about the institute’s past activities on our History page.
Finnish Institute of International Affairs at 65
Whoever keeps up with the times is already falling behind, goes the old saying. However, scholars of international politics have no other option, as their subject of research always consists of the events and phenomena of the present moment, no matter how turbulent the times are.
As a research institute that pursues applied research, the Finnish Institute of International Affairs has, from the very beginning, acknowledged the connection between developments in international politics and its own work. The focus areas of research at FIIA have always reflected the spirit of their time. FIIA has been particularly valuable during periods of transition, when it has sought to articulate the present moment through research and to challenge established ways of thinking, when necessary.
One way to interpret the institute’s 65-year history is to see it as a rollercoaster-like journey. Through turning points and crises in international politics and the consequent growing demand and expectations for research, the journey has shaped FIIA into the globally respected and well-networked research institution it is today.
As it celebrates its anniversary year, FIIA once again finds itself in the eye of the storm in international politics. The transformation of European security and the broader global order is accelerating. There is once again an urgent need to stay attuned to the times and put its spirit into words. Yet the institute’s researchers must also be capable of doing more: to reach toward the future, anticipate possible developments, and consider alternative paths and the choices that may lie ahead. Increasingly, the relevant scope of analysis is not just Finland or even Europe but the whole world.
The history of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs shows that even the best researchers do not always get their assessments exactly right. This, however, is not necessarily what matters most. The right question, even a difficult one, may sometimes be more important than an obvious answer. At times, the researcher is most helpful by questioning, challenging, or even provoking. It is a sign of a mature society that it can tolerate and allow well-founded, expertise-based dissenting views, including on foreign and security policy issues.
Just as in 1961, the world today is still essentially built with words. The assessments of researchers play a part in this. Therefore, despite its advanced age, the Finnish Institute of International Affairs and its experts are still only at the beginning of their work. The journey in the field of global politics continues.
Hiski Haukkala,
Director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs
FIIA operates under the Act on the Institute for International Relations and European Union Affairs (29.6.2006/544). The Institute is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors, and has an Advisory Board and a Scientific Council.
FIIA’s mission is to produce high-quality research, support policymaking, and participate in both academic and public debates in Finland and internationally.
Research at FIIA
Research at the Institute is mainly carried out in research programmes which are defined for a three-year research period at a time. Four separate research programmes have been decided on for the period 2026-2028:
- Finland and Northern European Security
- The European Union and Strategic Competition
- Russia, Eastern Europe and Eurasia
- Global Security and Governance
Read more about FIIA’s research programme for 2026-2028:
FIIA publishes its research results in various formats. FIIA produces around 60 publications each year, while the total number of publications per year by FIIA’s researchers is around 300.
FIIA organises around 80 events each year on recent FIIA publications and topical international issues. Two major annual events are FIIA Forum and Helsinki Security Forum.
FIIA published Ulkopolitiikka magazine, the Finnish Journal of Foreign Affairs, which focuses on politics, economics and international affairs. FIIA also maintains a specialised library.
FIIA researchers in the media
The Institute’s researchers contribute to public and academic discussions on topical issues by writing for newspapers, magazines and journals, by participating in both national and international conferences and other events, and by providing commentary and analysis to the media.
FIIA’s researchers comment on current issues based on their own research and expertise. The Institute does not have an official position on issues of international politics.
FIIA welcomes fact-based and critical discussion on its social media channels. FIIA does not tolerate unlawful, derogatory or offensive content and comments. Accounts that repeatedly post such content may be blocked and inappropriate comments may be deleted. We attempt to answer topical and appropriate questions and comments during office hours.
Library
The FIIA library is a specialised facility which supports the Institute’s research activities and whose collections are at the disposal of anybody interested in international relations and foreign policy.
The library contains over 24 600 volumes. It subscribes to or receives on an exchange basis some 200 periodicals and newspapers. Older annual volumes of periodicals are kept in the Institute’s archives or sent to the National Repository Library.
The collections focus on the topics of Finnish foreign policy, international politics, changes within Europe, Finland’s neighbouring regions, and disarmament.
Books, but not periodicals, can be borrowed. The borrowing period for books is four weeks. Interlibrary loans are confined to sending article copies only.
The library does not maintain regular opening hours. Customers are advised, instead, to always make an appointment before their arrival.
The library’s book collections are catalogued into a PrettyLib library system. An article database for incoming periodicals was updated 1995-2017. The databases are not available outside the Institute.