Catching up through comparison: The making of Finland as a political unit, 1809–1863

The creation of Finland as a grand duchy within the Russian Empire in 1809 opened up question what was, fact. Comparing synchronously with other countries and diachronically itself before after its elevation into gained temporal features which level development was assessed. Such comparisons during first half 19th century were used to shape political unit, they facilitated assessment parts society needed improve order make country comparable imagined or real others. Given that Diet (the Estate Assembly) not convened between 1863, these comparative notions largely dealt questions constitution state institutions. mindset Finnish actors also developed process conducting comparisons. These can be analyzed through analytical categories descriptive synchronization, participative last mentioned being possible only when began think Finland, indeed, had maturity.