TOTAL DEFENCE

Finland's national defence is based on the idea of total defence. "Total defence" refers to all of the military and civil functions by which Finland's sovereignty and the livelihood and security of its citizens are safeguarded against threats by nations and other external actors, or against other threats. Securing the vital functions of society under all circumstances with a coordinated action between different sectors of society is the key object of total defence.

Total defence encompasses the whole of society by offering a possibility to use the resources of different sectors of society to maintain security. The idea is to coordinate the measures of the public and private sector as well as voluntary activities by citizens in order to maintain functional society under all circumstances.

The functions vital to society are:

• State leadership

• External capacity to act

• National military defence

• Internal security

• A well-functioning economy and society

• Income security of the population and its capacity to act

• The ability to tolerate a crisis

The Government is responsible for ensuring that total defence can function in all situations. The Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy deals with important matters related to total defence. Each ministry, government body and agency is responsible for preparation and implementation of total defence in its own area of activities.

The Ministry of Defence is responsible for overall coordination between different branches of government. The Security and Defence Committee, the Secretariat of which is situated in the Ministry of Defence, assists both the Ministry of Defence and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy in matters related to total defence.

National Defence Courses, organised by the National Defence College prepare both the civilians and military persons in the leading positions of society to act under the principles of total defence. The courses seek to enhance the cooperation between different sectors of society and prepare participants for different tasks in order to secure the functioning of society under all conditions.