This paper addresses the apparent paradox of simultaneous neoliberal change and welfare-statist, corporatist continuity by presenting an empirical case study of the advent of neoliberal ideas in Finland in the 1970s and 1980s. The paper focuses on the attempts of a free-market think tank EVA and the employers' association STK to advance policies such as economic deregulation, international competitiveness, welfare retrenchment, and active social and labour market policies through the neoliberal retasking of the corporatist Finnish welfare state. EVA and the STK utilised seemingly non-neoliberal means, i.e. an economic policy consensus and tripartite corporatist arrangements, and reformulated their content to better correspond with business interests. Instead of demolition, the outcome has been the redefinition and incremental transformation of the state from a provider of welfare to a promoter of competitiveness, productivity, and employment.

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Helsingin yliopiston historian oppiaineessa alkoi syksyllä 2019 uusi perinne, vuosittainen Eino Jutikkala -luento. Ensimmäinen luento järjestettiin tiistaina 12.11.2019 ja puhujana oli FT Maiju Wuokko, joka on tutkinut erityisesti talouden politiikan välisiä kytköksiä 1900-luvun Suomessa. Ennen ja nyt julkaisee Wuokon luentotekstin ”Yhteiskunnallisen kehityksen johtavat voimat”. Syksyisin järjestettävän luennon tarkoituksena on muistuttaa Akateemikko Eino Jutikkalan (1907–2006) ja yleisemminkin aiempien historioitsijasukupolvien laajasta elämäntyöstä ja tuoda esiin nykyisten, eri uravaiheissa olevien tutkijoiden työtä historian parissa. Puhujaksi pyydetään vuoroin nuori väitellyt tutkija, vanhempi tutkija ja kansainvälinen tutkija. Syksyllä 2020 luennon pitää Oklahoman valtionyliopiston professori, historioitsija Jason Lavery.

Bolognassa sijaitsevan Ducati-moottoripyörien tehtaanmuseon Museo Ducatin arvostelu.

This article examines the political activity-specifically lobbying and PR efforts-of major Finnish business associations during the Cold War era (c. 1945-1991). The main motivation for business political activity was the threat of socialism and state intervention in their various forms. Based on a qualitative reading of archived documents, this article illustrates a shift from the fear of an outright revolution in the 1940s, through leftist radicalism and economic regulation in the 1970s, to the rise of environmentalism in the 1980s. Influencing efforts were targeted at both politicians and the general public but, towards the end of period studies, shaping public opinion became increasingly important. This article contributes to our knowledge on business-politics links and business political activity as historical phenomena. It points out compelling similarities in the political activity of business in various Western countries and suggests that they should be examined more thoroughly in future research.