2. Finnish Paternalism at the Start of the Industrial Revolution

This chapter introduces the roots of Finnish CSR in the start of the industrial revolution. Some of the distinctive characteristics of Finnish industrialization are presented, such as the long coexistence of agrarian and industrializing societies, the simultaneous building of an independent nation state, and the strong role of the emerging forest industry especially in the rural areas. Furthermore, the industrialization phase is discussed as the era of the owner-managers that were central figures in the emerging factory communities. Especially in these roles, the owner-managers engaged in some of the earliest activities of social responsibility that provided the communities of workers with housing, schools, hospitals, libraries, and public infrastructure.