Aaland Islands 1920-21

Question 1

What countries were in the dispute?

Answer 1

Finland and Sweden

Question 2

When was the dispute?

Answer 2

1921

Question 3

What was the dispute about?

Answer 3

• The islands are equally distant between Finland and Sweden
• They traditionally belonged to Finland but most of the Islanders wanted to be governed by Sweden

Question 4

What actions did the League take?

Answer 4

• Neither Sweden nor Finland could come to a decision as to who owned the islands and in 1921 they asked the League to adjudicate
• The League’s decision was that they should remain with Finland but that no weapons should ever be kept there

Question 5

What were the outcomes?

Answer 5

• Both countries accepted the decision and it remains in force to this day

Question 6

What were the successes about this dispute?

Answer 6

• Finland and Sweden follow the process set out in the Covenant and take their dispute to the league.
• This appears to be collective action. Sweden agreed and accepted the league’s decision.
• Quite a significant success.

Question 7

What were the failures in this dispute?

Answer 7

• The Aaland Island incident raised questions about the league’s fairness because some countries argued that smaller countries (eg. Sweden and Finland) were not being treated fairly relative to larger countries or that the League processes only really worked with “smaller” nations.