The past can be viewed from a variety of perspectives. Addressing different interpretations of history can, at its best, enhance understanding between different cultures.
“I’m particularly interested in the interpretative nature of history, in the ways in which the past is perceived. That is, why are the same events and phenomena seen in a certain way in one country or culture, and in a completely different in another?”
This is how Simo Mikkonen, the university’s newly appointed Professor of Sociocultural Remembering, describes his current research interests.
Since this March, Mikkonen holds a professorship within the university’s BOMOCULT research community, which explores borders, mobilities and cultural encounters. In particular, Mikkonen’s professorship in sociocultural remembering will strengthen cultural research within the research community. His own background lies in historical research, with a specific focus on cultural history.
“Lately, my research has delved into the interfaces between memory and the past, which also includes the interpretative nature of history.”
When asked for examples of historical interpretation and differences in it, Mikkonen mentions the Winter War fought between Finland and Russia. For Finns, the war holds immense importance as a crucial part of their identity and history, and remembrance of the Winter War is an important part of Finns’ celebration of their Independence Day.
“Even though our Independence Day doesn’t really have anything to do with the Winter War.”
In Russia, on the other hand, the Winter War is interpreted as a mere border conflict, one that is not even part of World War II.
“We Finns see the war as part of our national struggle for survival that we ultimately came out of alive and weren’t annexed to the Soviet Union. From Russia’s perspective, the war belonged to a series of events that resulted in the Soviet Union becoming a superpower.”
This is how history is interpreted from national perspectives, and even major events in world history take on completely opposite characteristics.
Differences of interpretation also in the history of the Baltic countries
For years already, Mikkonen’s working language has been Russian, and much of his work has taken place in archives located in Moscow, for example. Since the start of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and the closure of Finland’s borders with Russia, Mikkonen has had to reorient his work and research.
“No one knows whether research collaboration remains frozen, and access to Russian archives blocked, for years or even decades, so I have had to reconsider my research perspectives. I cannot count on the possibility of one day being able to resume research on the Russian side of the border.”
This is why Mikkonen’s research is now more focused on Russia’s western border regions with the Baltic countries, where history and the Soviet past, again, are interpreted from different perspectives.
“In Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, the recent past with Russia is still a sore point. In the Baltics, Russia is unequivocally seen as a colonizer, although if we go back in history, things aren’t quite as simple.”
Soviet-era development and relationships between different nationalities and republics were complex and, according to Mikkonen, a broader assessment of that period in history is needed.
“An examination of the Soviet past is easily dismissed in the Baltic countries and considered irrelevant to the present. However, I believe this is an incorrect approach. The past inevitably influences our present reality, and people’s experiences and memories of the past play a role in the decisions and choices they make.”
According to Mikkonen, even Finns still have work to do in addressing their relationship with the Soviet Union, although our history is different from that of the Baltic countries.
“Culturally, we have always been part of the West, although our politics were susceptible to Soviet influence until the 1980s. In Finland, we can perhaps view the Soviet era from a slightly more neutral perspective than the peoples of the Baltic countries.”
In Russia, on the other hand, the Winter War is interpreted as a mere border conflict, one that is not even part of World War II.
Simo Mikkonen
Professor
Singing bass in an opera choir
Mikkonen will transfer to his new professorship from the Department of History and Ethnology at the University of Jyväskylä. He is well familiar with the themes of research of the University of Eastern Finland, and he already knows many of his new colleagues.
“In any case, it is easy to get attached to Eastern Finland, as a former resident of Kuopio, I feel like I still have an Eastern Finnish mindset.”
On his free time, Mikkonen feels most at home with music. His lower and general upper secondary education was music-oriented, and he originally studied musicology at university. Music has also played an important minor role in his research. Starting a family and having small children, however, took priority over his musical hobbies.
“A few years ago, I came across the Jyväskylä Opera Choir, where I now sing bass. I truly enjoy being part of it, especially as it allows me to challenge myself in acting."
The Mikkonen family will continue to live in Muurame, near Jyväskylä, but having a rental apartment in Joensuu helps in getting settled in the new place. Two of Mikkonen’s three children are already grown up, making it easier to accept a position that requires travel.
“And there will definitely be travel ahead, because my absolute preference is to work and meet with people face-to-face, rather than through remote connections,” Mikkonen says.
SIMO MIKKONEN
- Professor of Sociocultural Remembering, University of Eastern Finland, 1 March 2024–28 February 2029
- Born 1978, Jyväskylä
- PhD in General History, University of Jyväskylä, 2007
- MA in Musicology, University of Jyväskylä, 2002
- MA in General History, University of Jyväskylä, 2002
- Title of Docent in General History, University of Jyväskylä, 2009
KEY ROLES
- Fulbright Post-Doctoral Fellow, Stanford University, 2007–2008
- Senior Assistant 2010, University of Jyväskylä
- Academy of Finland Postdoctoral Researcher 2011–2013
- Fulbright Senior Scholar, UC Berkeley, 2014–2015
- Academy Research Fellow 2014–2019
- Senior Researcher 2020–2024, University of Jyväskylä
Print-quality photos of Simo Mikkonen: https://mediabank.uef.fi/A/UEF+Media+Bank/63798?encoding=UTF-8 and https://mediabank.uef.fi/A/UEF+Media+Bank/63797?encoding=UTF-8
