Max Jakobson

Max Jakobson in October 2008

Max Jakobson (born September 30, 1923 in Viipuri, Finland, now Vyborg, Russia) 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.

Works

• Jakobson, Max (1961). The Diplomacy of the Winter War: An Account of the Russo–Finnish War, 1939–1940. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. 
• 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.
• Jakobson, Max (1987). Finland: Myth and Reality. Helsinki: Otava. 
• 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.

Sources

Literature

• Jukka Tarkka: 'Max Jakobson – kansainvälinen suomalainen' ("Max Jacobson - International Finn"). Otava, 1983. ISBN 951-1-07591-8

External links

• A column by Jarkko Tontti: 'Max Jakobson, oikeiston oma Jaakko Laakso'. Vihreä Lanka, Sept. 5, 2007.