The Helsinki Brief, Episode 3: Finland's Comprehensive Security Model
From War Studies by Department of War Studies
June 12, 2026 · 49 min
About this episode
The episode explores Finland's comprehensive security model and its implications for resilience during crises.
In this third episode of The Helsinki Brief: Inside Finnish Intelligence and Security, Dr Paul McGarr (King’s College London) is joined again by Hannamiina Tanninen of the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service (SUPO) to explore Finland’s 'comprehensive security' model — a point of reference in international debates on resilience. They unpack what “comprehensive security” means in practice: an all-of-society approach designed to keep Finland functioning as normally as possible during crises, from major disruptions and natural disasters to heightened security threats. The conversation looks at how the model is embedded across government, the private sector and civil society — and why joint exercises, consultation and coordination are central to making it work. The episode also looks at the foundations that make this approach work in Finland — including high public trust, the welfare state, a broad-based education system and mandatory conscription — as well as the role of the National Emergency Supply Agency. Finally, the discussion considers which elements of the Finnish model might be transferable elsewhere — and which are rooted in Finland’s specific history, size and social…
People in this episode
Host: Dr Paul McGarr
Guest: Hannamiina Tanninen
Topics covered
- comprehensive security
- Finnish intelligence
- crisis management
- public trust
- civil society
- national security
Keywords
- comprehensive security
- Finland
- crisis management
- public trust
- national security
- civil society
- intelligence
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Finnish Security and Intelligence Service (SUPO), National Defence University in Finland, National Emergency Supply Agency
Places: Finland, King’s College London
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