大象传媒

How has Finland been shaped by its two very different neighbours, Sweden and Russia?

These days, Finland is considered to be one of the best governed, least corrupt, most educated nations in the world. It has even earned itself the title of 'World鈥檚 Happiest Country'. Yet the self-deprecating Finns have long seen Finland as a scrappy underdog wedged between two much bigger countries, Sweden and Russia. There鈥檚 even a saying of sorts that captures this sentiment: 鈥淲e can鈥檛 be Swedish. We don鈥檛 want to be Russian. We might as well be Finnish.鈥� Kavita Pillay travels to Finland during the country鈥檚 centenary of independence to find out how this Nordic nation has been profoundly shaped by its two much bigger - and very different - neighbours.

Image: Composite by D8 Design Agency