Meaning of Finlandize | Babel Free

Definitions

To control a smaller or weaker nation's foreign policy through intimidation, while that nation remains nominally independent.

transitive

Examples

“Do you think that Russia with Eastern Europe would not have tried to not only neutralize, but Finlandize Germany?”

“The removal of American troops would be construed by the Kremlin as an invitation to Finlandize Europe.”

“A Marxist plan to "Finlandize" Honduras in an effort to spread subversive violence throughout Central America has been denounced by Steadman Fagoth, commander in chief of the anti-Sandinist insurgent Indian force called Miskitos, Sumus, and Remas (MISURA).”

““One can Finlandize a democracy,“ says a former Sandanista foreign policy advisor. ”To think one can Finlandize a totalitarian country is pure fantasy.””

“Americans seem extremely afraid that the Soviet Union could “Finlandize” solidly capitalist countries in Western Europe (that is, make their foreign policy accommodating without changing their domestic system), but they have no sense that they might Finlandize Nicaragua, let alone Cuba.”

CEFR level