The Many Faces of Representation

MPs' Recollections of the Concept of Representation During the Debate on Finland's Accession to the EU

Abstract

This article analyzes how Finnish MPs perceived representation in oral history interviews (1991–1995) about the EU accession decision. Using an empirically grounded historical approach, it examines the presence of Sudulich, Trumm, and Bridgewater’s representation archetypes in MPs’ narratives. The study finds that these retrospective accounts are personal and overlapping, with archetypes appearing when MPs faced tensions between personal views, party positions, and constituents’ opinions. Party discipline, electoral pressures, and regional divides—highlighted by the EU referendum—shaped MPs’ recollections and underscored the role of representational perceptions.