Monday, July 24, 2017

Neo Westphalian Europe Part 51: Republic of Karelia


The Republic of Karelia is one of the semi autonomous republics that currently exists within the borders of the Russian Federation. There is already a full independence movement there. It is the home of the Karelian ethnic group, who are related to the neighbouring Finns.

The autonomous republics of Russia are likely to be the first political entities that break free from Moscow, as the Russian state breaks up in the coming wave of decentralisation. As has been noted before great care must be taken through this process, to ensure that devious forces from the Western Empire are not allowed to hijack these movements, or this process of moving to smaller states, as a way to try and destroy the current regime in Moscow. Moscow should be allowed to have centre stage in assisting this break up, just as it did with the break down of the larger Soviet Union in the 1990’s. Ensuring that close and friendly ties remain, between all these new nations and Moscow, will be of the utmost importance to maintain global stability, as this break down of centralised structures continues. This way the Moscow regime will not feel threatened and there will be a place in the world for all these regimes.

As well as the land the Karelians live in, in their republic, there are some older historical parts of Karelia, which have been a source of conflict between Russia and Finland over the past few centuries. Finland has two historic parts of Karelia in its borders. It also has a claim to the Karelian Isthmus, which currently lies inside Russia’s borders. A solution to defuse this tension would be for Russia to cede the Karelian Isthmus to the republic of Karelia and Finland to follow suit with its Karelian territories.

This will leave a new Karelian nation made up of the territories of the Republic of Karelia, currently a part of Russia. Also in this state would be the Priozersky and Vyborgsky Districts, currently a part of the Leningrad Oblast in Russia. Finally added to this will be North and South Karelia, currently a part of Finland.


The flag of the proposed independent Karelia is different from the current flag flown by the autonomous region in Russia. The Karelian nationalists instead use the Nordic Cross style flag, which was first adopted by a briefly independent Karelian nation in 1920. The Republic of Uhtua declared independence in 1919 and in 1920 they adopted the flag based on designs prepared by a Finn, who supported the nationalist cause. In 1920 the Soviets invaded the republic and it has thus far not gained independence again. Karelian nationalists still use the Uhtua flag.


Go Back To Part 1


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