Max Jakobson
Encyclopedia
Max Jakobson is a retired Finnish Jewish
diplomat
and journalist
.
Jakobson began his career as a journalist
. He worked at the BBC
. From 1953 to 1974 he was employed by the Finnish foreign ministry, eventually acting as Finland's ambassador
to the United Nations
and Sweden. He helped shape Finland's policy of neutrality
during the Cold War
.
In 1971 Jakobson was a candidate for the post of United Nations Secretary-General
. His candidacy failed, ostensibly because of a Soviet Union
veto.
Jakobson has been active as a commentator on Finnish politics, having written several books and numerous articles on Finnish political history and contemporary Finnish politics.
He has acted as chairman of the Estonian International Commission for Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity
investigating Communist and Nazi crimes in Estonia
.
History of the Jews in Finland
Finnish Jews are Jews who are citizens of Finland. The country is home to approximately 1,500 Jews, who mostly live in Helsinki. Jews came to Finland as traders and merchants from Europe.-History :...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
.
Jakobson began his career as a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
. He worked at the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. From 1953 to 1974 he was employed by the Finnish foreign ministry, eventually acting as Finland's ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and Sweden. He helped shape Finland's policy of neutrality
Neutral country
A neutral power in a particular war is a sovereign state which declares itself to be neutral towards the belligerents. A non-belligerent state does not need to be neutral. The rights and duties of a neutral power are defined in Sections 5 and 13 of the Hague Convention of 1907...
during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
.
In 1971 Jakobson was a candidate for the post of United Nations Secretary-General
United Nations Secretary-General
The Secretary-General of the United Nations is the head of the Secretariat of the United Nations, one of the principal organs of the United Nations. The Secretary-General also acts as the de facto spokesperson and leader of the United Nations....
. His candidacy failed, ostensibly because of a Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
veto.
Jakobson has been active as a commentator on Finnish politics, having written several books and numerous articles on Finnish political history and contemporary Finnish politics.
He has acted as chairman of the Estonian International Commission for Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity
Estonian International Commission for Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity
The Estonian International Commission for Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity is the commission established by President of Estonia Lennart Meri in October 1998 to investigate crimes against humanity committed in Estonia or against its citizens during the Soviet and German occupation, such as...
investigating Communist and Nazi crimes in Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
.
Works
- Englanti valinkauhassa (1952)
- Diplomaattien talvisota (1955)
- Kuumalla linjalla (1968)
- Paasikivi Tukholmassa (1978). ISBN 951-1-05126-1.
- Veteen piirretty viiva (1980). ISBN 951-1-06100-3.
- 38. kerros (1983). ISBN 951-1-07565-9.
- Vallanvaihto (1992). ISBN 951-1-12288-6.
- Finland in the New Europe (1998)
- Väkivallan vuodet, 20. vuosisadan tilinpäätös (1999). ISBN 951-1-13369-1.
- Pelon ja toivon aika, 20. vuosisadan tilinpäätös (2001). (ISBN 951-1-16581-X.
- Tilinpäätös, 20. vuosisadan tilinpäätös (2003). ISBN 951-1-18856-9.
- Tulevaisuus? (2005). ISBN 951-1-20354-1.
- Kohtalonvuodet – Suomi nousi, taipui ja selvisi (2008). ISBN 978-951-0-33113-2.
Literature
- Jukka Tarkka: 'Max Jakobson – kansainvälinen suomalainen' ("Max Jacobson - International Finn"). Otava, 1983. ISBN 951-1-07591-8