Finnish tribes, originally living in the area between the Volga and the Ural, enter in the first centuries after Christ the area that is now Finland. They do not develop a state and in the twelfth century the area becomes as Finland part of Sweden. Sweden establishes in 1581 the Grand Duchy of Finland, subject to, and from 1772 in nominal personal union with, Sweden. In 1809 Sweden loses control over Finland to Russia and a personal union of the Grand Duchy with Russia is established.

During World War I, in 1917, Finland declares its independence under the leadership of Pehr Evind Svinhufvud. This independence is recognized by the new communist leaders of Russia. At the same time, the breach between the parties of the left and the right becomes hostile. In 1918 leftwing parties stage a coup forcing the government to flee from Helsinki to Vaasa. The "Reds" want to create a socialistic Finland. With this coup civil war between Finnish communists (the Finnish Socialist Republic) and anti-communists (Kingdom of Finland) starts, The war ends in the victory of the latter under general Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim in 1918.

The parties favouring a republic win the parliamentary elections in 1919. Finland becomes the Republic of Finland in the summer of 1919; Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg is elected as the first president (1919-25). The new democracy works on a alleviation of the breach between the parties. Finland becomes a parliamentary democracy. In 1922 Finland establishes the autonomous region of Aland. Most of the time the Suomen Sosiaalidemokraatinen Puolue (Finnish Social Democratic Party, SDP) is the largest party, but, with the exception of minority government in 1926-1927, the centre-right parties form the government. The main centre-right parties are the Maalaisliito (Agrarians' League, ML), the conservative Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition, KOK) and the liberal Kansallinen Edistyspuolue (National Progress Party, KEP) as well as the Svenska Folkpartiet (Swedish People's Party, SFP). The premiership rotates quickly between the leading parties and most prime minister hold office for a period shorter then a year. In the early 1930's fascism emerges and the domestic Lapua-movement attempts a coup in 1932. This coup fails but an extreme right party, the Isänmaallinen Kansanliike (Patriotic People's Movement, IKL) is formed but it never gains widespread support.

In 1937 the SDP joins a coalition with the agrarian and liberal parties. During World War II, Finland fights the USSR twice: in the Winter War of 1939-1940 (with some support from Sweden) and again in the Continuation War of 1941-1944 (with considerable support from Germany). The Winter War leads to the formation of a all-party coalition. After the war Finland is in the grey zone between western countries and the Soviet Union. The USSR has some right of determination to Finnish domestic politics. Finland assumes a policy of cautious neutrality and "realpolitik", taking carefully into account Finland's geographical location next to the USSR. Dominant parties after the war are the SDP, the ML, the communist Suomen Kansan Demokraatinen Liitto (Finnish People's Democratic League, SKDL) and the conservative KOK. The SFP is from 1945 allways part of government. Though the KOK is in opposition until 1958, its leader Juho Kusti Paasiviki is president until 1956. In 1948 the ML becomes the largest party and its leader Urho Kekkonen helds the premiership in five out of seven governments formed between 1950 and 1956. In 1956 he becomes president (until 1981).

After 1956 the quick changes of the prime ministership continue. In the period between 1958 and 1962 the SKDL is the largest parliamentary party. For the first time in 1963 a coalition without the social-democrats can be formed under Ahti Karjalainen and later Johannes Virolainen. Under his leadership the ML is renamed Keskustapuolue (Centre Party, KESK). Since 1966 generally governments include the SDP and the Keskustapuolue. In 1972 Kalevi Sorsa of the SDP becomes prime minister. He is succeded in 1975 by Keijo Antero Liinamaa and later that year by Martti Miettunen of Keskustapuolue. In 1977 Sorsa becomes prime minister again. Two years later Mauno Koivisto becomes prime minister of a coalition of mainly his SDP and Keskustapuolue, which he remains until 1981. In 1982 Sorsa regains the premiership, wich he remains until 1987.

That year he is succeeded by Harri Holkeri who leads a coalition of conservatives and SDP. In 1991 Keskustapuolue wins the elections and Esko Aho becomes prime minister in a coalition of mainly Keskustapuolue and the centre-right parties. When the USSR falls down in 1991 Finland uses it immediately as its advantage and becomes free to follow its own course. Finland joins the European Union in 1995. In 1995 Paavo Lipponen of the SDP becomes prime minister in a coalition of mainly his SDP and the conservatives. After the victory of the Keskustapuolue in 2003 Anneli Jäätteenmäki becomes prime minister, but she has to resign after two months. She is succeeded by Matti Vanhanen. He leads a coalition of Keskustapuolue, SDP and the Svenska Folkpartiet (Swedish People's Party, SFP), a party nearly allways in government.