Max Jakobson

Not to be confused with physician Max Jacobson.

Max Jakobson
File:Max Jakobson.jpg
Finland Ambassador to the United Nations
In office 1965–1971

Max Jakobson (September 30, 1923 – March 9, 2013) was a Finnish diplomat and journalist of Finnish-Jewish descent. Jakobson was an instrumental figure in shaping Finland's policy of neutrality during the Cold War.

Max Jakobson was born in 1923 in Viipuri, Finland (now Vyborg, Russia), as son of Finnish-Jewish lawyer Jonas Jakobson and his ethnic Finnish wife Helmi (née Virtanen). He began his career as a journalist. He worked at the BBC. From 1953 to 1974 he was employed by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs eventually acting as Finland's ambassador to the United Nations in 1965-1971 and Finland's Ambassador to Sweden in 1971−1974. Jakobson ran for United Nations Secretary-General in the 1971 selection. He was one of three candidates to receive the required 9 votes in the Security Council, but he was vetoed by the Soviet Union.

Jakobson was active as a commentator on Finnish politics, having written several books and numerous articles on Finnish political history and contemporary Finnish politics. He also acted as chairman of the Estonian International Commission for Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity investigating Communist and Nazi crimes in Estonia.

Works

• Englanti valinkauhassa (1952)
• Diplomaattien talvisota (1955)
• Kuumalla linjalla (1968)
• Paasikivi Tukholmassa (1978). .
• Veteen piirretty viiva (1980). .
• 38. kerros (1983). .
• Vallanvaihto (1992). .
• Finland in the New Europe (1998)
• Väkivallan vuodet, 20. vuosisadan tilinpäätös (1999). .
• Pelon ja toivon aika, 20. vuosisadan tilinpäätös (2001). (.
• Tilinpäätös, 20. vuosisadan tilinpäätös (2003). .
• Tulevaisuus? (2005). .
• Kohtalonvuodet – Suomi nousi, taipui ja selvisi (2008). .

Sources

• Tarkka, Jukka: Max Jakobson – kansainvälinen suomalainen ("Max Jacobson - International Finn"). Otava, 1983. (in Finnish)