Taistolaisuus
Encyclopedia
Taistoism was an orthodox pro-Soviet tendency in the mostly Eurocommunist Finnish
communist
movement in 1970s and 1980s. The Taistoists were an interior opposition group in the Communist Party of Finland
. They were named after their leader Taisto Sinisalo
whose first name means "a battle", "a fight" or "a struggle". Sinisalo's supporters constituted a party within a party, but pressure from the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
prevented the party from formally splitting. The term taistolaisuus was a derogatory nickname invented by Helsingin Sanomat
and was never used by the group themselves. Although they were sometimes identified as "Stalinists", this was not a central part of their orthodoxy.
The opposition was expelled from the party 1985–1986 and it formed the Communist Party of Finland (Unity), which took the name "Communist Party of Finland" after the original party's bankruptcy in 1992.
Some of the former Taistoists later joined the Left Alliance
or have since abandoned Communism altogether.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
movement in 1970s and 1980s. The Taistoists were an interior opposition group in the Communist Party of Finland
Communist Party of Finland
The Communist Party of Finland was a communist political party in Finland. The SKP was a section of Comintern and illegal in Finland until 1944.SKP did not participate in any elections with its own name. Instead, front organisations were used...
. They were named after their leader Taisto Sinisalo
Taisto Sinisalo
Taisto Jalo Sinisalo was a Finnish communist politician, MP of the SKDL , leader of the SKP`s orthodox pro-Soviet faction and vice chairman of the party . After the SKP split in the 1980s, Sinisalo became the first chairman of the Communist Party of Finland ....
whose first name means "a battle", "a fight" or "a struggle". Sinisalo's supporters constituted a party within a party, but pressure from the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the only legal, ruling political party in the Soviet Union and one of the largest communist organizations in the world...
prevented the party from formally splitting. The term taistolaisuus was a derogatory nickname invented by Helsingin Sanomat
Helsingin Sanomat
Helsingin Sanomat is the largest subscription newspaper in Finland and the Nordic countries, owned by Sanoma. Except after certain holidays, it is published daily. In 2008, its daily circulation was 412,421 on weekdays and 468,505 on Sundays...
and was never used by the group themselves. Although they were sometimes identified as "Stalinists", this was not a central part of their orthodoxy.
The opposition was expelled from the party 1985–1986 and it formed the Communist Party of Finland (Unity), which took the name "Communist Party of Finland" after the original party's bankruptcy in 1992.
Some of the former Taistoists later joined the Left Alliance
Left Alliance (Finland)
The Left Alliance is a left-wing political party in Finland. It was founded on the basis of the Finnish People's Democratic League and the Communist Party of Finland in 1990....
or have since abandoned Communism altogether.
Members of Parliament
- Markus Kainulainen (1975-1979)
- Lauri Kantola (1962-1975)
- Mikko Kuoppa (1979-1987, 1995-)
- Ensio Laine (1968-1995)
- Pentti Liedes (1954-1966, 1970-1983, 1983-1985)
- Marja-Liisa Löyttyjärvi (1979-1991)
- Pauli Puhakka (1954-1983)
- Irma Rosnell (1954-1987)
- Taisto SinisaloTaisto SinisaloTaisto Jalo Sinisalo was a Finnish communist politician, MP of the SKDL , leader of the SKP`s orthodox pro-Soviet faction and vice chairman of the party . After the SKP split in the 1980s, Sinisalo became the first chairman of the Communist Party of Finland ....
(1962-1979) - Marjatta Stenius-Kaukonen (1975-1994, 1999-2003)
- Oili Suomi (1970-1972, 1977-1979)
- Sten Söderström (1979-1987)
- Esko-Juhani TenniläEsko-Juhani TenniläEsko-Juhani Tennilä is Finnish leftist politician from Lapland and member of Parliament since 1975 until 2011.Tennilä was born in Rovaniemi and has studied in University of Tampere and worked as reporter for Hämeen Yhteistyö 1966–1975....
(1975-) - Seppo Toiviainen (1979-1987)
- Mirjam Tuominen (1970-1979)
- Pentti TiusanenPentti TiusanenPentti Uolevi Tiusanen is a Finnish politician and member of Finnish Parliament, representing the Left Alliance. He was elected to Finnish Parliament in the 1995 election.-External links:**...
(1995-) - Pirkko Turpeinen (1983-1987)
- Rainer Virtanen (1954-1972)
Cultural movement
- Kaj ChydeniusKaj ChydeniusKaj Chydenius is a Finnish composer probably best known for his left-wing political songs interpreted by various artists. He studied at the Sibelius Academy, the University of Helsinki and the Helsinki School of Economics, starting his career with avant-garde music, happening, instrumental theatre...
- Kristiina Halkola
- Heikki KinnunenHeikki KinnunenHeikki Kinnunen is a Finnish actor, who became well known in the beginning of 1970s in the comedy program Ällitälli. Kinnunen was known specially for his roles in comedy films and -series...
- Kaisa KorhonenKaisa KorhonenKaisa Korhonen is a Finnish writer and recipient of the Eino Leino Prize in 1974.-References:...
- Marja-Leena MikkolaMarja-Leena MikkolaMarja-Leena Mikkola is a Finnish writer and recipient of the Eino Leino Prize in 1967.-References:...
- Aulikki Oksanen
- Pirkko SaisioPirkko SaisioPirkko Saisio is a Finnish author, actress and director. She has also written under the pen name Jukka Larsson and Eva Wein. Saisio has a broad literary output, dealing with many kinds of texts from film screenplays all the way to librettos for the ballet...
Journalists
- Urho Jokinen, Tiedonantaja newspaper main editor 1969–1984
- Jaakko LaaksoJaakko LaaksoJaakko Tapani Laakso is a Finnish leftwing politician and member of Parliament since 1991 representing Left Alliance. He is a former member of the Communist Party of Finland....
, Tiedonantaja main editor toimittaja 1976–1991 - Leif Salmen
- Erkki Susi, Tiedonantaja editor 1971–1984, main editor a 1984–
- Esko-Juhani TenniläEsko-Juhani TenniläEsko-Juhani Tennilä is Finnish leftist politician from Lapland and member of Parliament since 1975 until 2011.Tennilä was born in Rovaniemi and has studied in University of Tampere and worked as reporter for Hämeen Yhteistyö 1966–1975....
, - Nils TorvaldsNils TorvaldsNils Torvalds is a Finnish-Swede broadcast journalist, writer and politician. Torvalds is the son of the poet Ole Torvalds, and the father of the computer programmer Linus Torvalds of Linux kernel fame.- Journalist career :...
, Arbetartidningen Enhet editor
Other
- Ilkka Kylävaara
- Johannes Pakaslahti
- Veikko Porkkala
- Rauno Setälä
- Seppo Toiviainen
- Björn WahlroosBjörn WahlroosBjörn Arne Christer Wahlroos is the Chairman of the Board in Sampo Group, Nordea and UPM-Kymmene. Wahlroos’s nickname is "Nalle", which means "teddy bear" in Finnish and Swedish.- Career :...
, CEO of Sampo Group