Responsibilities
Professor of Political Science
Fields of expertise
Elite study
Power structures of the Finnish society
Governance of energy policy
Main positions of trust
International Political Science Association: RC Political Elites, member of the board
Research topics
Elite study: recruitment, cohesion, interaction networks, attitudes between the elites and the citizenry
Governance of energy policy:; decision-making, power wielding, the role of consumer-citizens, political consumerism, stealth democracy
Research unit
Research fields
Political Science
Selected publications
Kojo, Matti, Ruostetsaari, Ilkka, Valta, Jussi, Aalto, Pami & Järventausta, Pertti (2022), From Acceptability and Acceptance to Active Behavioral Support: Engaging the General Public in the Transition of the Electric Energy System in Finland. In: Farid, Karimi & Rodi Michael (eds.), Energy Transition in the Baltic Sea Region. Understanding Stakeholder Engagement and Community Acceptance. London: Routledge, 111-134. Doi: 10.4324/9781032003092-10.
Fragmentation of the Inner Circle: Circulation of the Finnish Elites in 1991-2021. Scandinavian Political Studies (2021). DOI: 10.1111/1467-9477.12220.
Kotilainen, Kirsi, Saari, Ulla A., Kojo, Matti & Ruostetsaari, Ilkka (2021), From Energy Consumers to Prosumers – How Do Policies Influence the Transition? In: Aalto, Pami (ed.), Electrification. Accelerating the Energy Transition. London: Elsevier Academic Press, 197-216.
Aalto Pami, Ruostetsaari Ilkka, Talus Kim & Muth Carl. J. (2020), Energy Policies in the Context of Sustainable Development. In: Leal Filho W., Azul A., Brandli L., Özuyar P., Wall T. (eds) Affordable and Clean Energy. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71057-0_10-1.
From Consumers to Energy Citizens: Finns' Readiness for Demand Response and Prosumerism in Energy Policy Making. International Journal of Energy Sectors Management (2019). DOI: 10.1108/IJSM-11-2019-0001.
Political Consumerism as a Means in Influencing Energy Policy and Solving Environmental Problems:
The Case of Finland. International Journal of Economy, Energy and Environment 2018; 3(3), 21-31. Doi:
10.11648/j.ijeee.20180303.11.
Citizens’ Support for Rival Modes of Political Involvement in Energy Policy-Making. The Case of
Finland. International Journal of Energy Sector Management 12(3), 2018,
323-340. Doi: 10.1108/IJESM-12-2017-0005.
Stealth Democracy, Elitism, and Citizenship in Finnish Energy Policy. Energy Research & Social Science 34 (2017), 93-103. DOI
10.1016/j.erss.2017.06.022.
Levels Within Elites. In: Farazmand, Ali (ed.), Global Encyclopedia of Public Administration, Public
Policy, and Governance. Springer International Publishing 2016. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-31816-5_45-1.
Vertical and Horizontal Mobility of the Finnish Political Elite. In: Karvonen, Lauri & Paloheimo,
Heikki & Raunio, Tapio (eds.), The Changing Balance of Political Power in Finland. Stockholm: Santérus Academic
Press 2016, 245-278.
Elite Recruitment and Coherence of the Inner Core of Power in Finland. Changing
Patterns during the Economic Crises of 1991-2011. Lanham: Lexington Books 2015.
The Changing Influence of the Finnish Parliament since the Early 1990s. In: Raunio, Tapio
& Nurmi, Hannu (toim.), The Serious Game of Politics. Festschrift for Matti Wiberg. Helsinki: Finnish Political Science
Association 2014, 177-192.
Opening the Inner Circle of Power: Circulation in the Finnish Elites in the Context of Major Societal Changes 1991-2011. Comparative
Sociology 12(2013), 255-288.
Citizen Involvement and the Role of Experts in Finnish Energy Policy-Making. International
Journal of Energy Engineering (2013), Vol. 3, Nr. 1, 12-22.
Changing Regulation and Governance ofFinnish Energy Policy-Making: New Rules but Old Elites? Review of Policy Research, Volume 27, Number 3 (2010), 273-297.
Citizens, Politicians and Experts in Finnish Energy Policy-Making. Energy
&Environment Vol. 21, No. 3, 2010, 203-222.
Governance and Political Consumerism in Finnish Energy Policy-Making. Energy Policy 37 (2009), 102-110.
Nordic Elites in Comparative Perspective. In: Sasaki, Masamichi (ed.), Elites: New Comparative Perspective. Leiden/Boston:
Brill 2008. 143-170.
Nordic Elites in Comparative Perspective. Comparative Sociology 6 (2007), 158-189.
Restructuring of the European Political Centre: Withering Liberal and Persisting Agrarian Party Families. In: Cotta, Maurizio
& Best, Heinrich (eds.), Democratic Representation in Europe: Diversity, Change and Convergence. Oxford: Oxford University
Press 2007. 217-252.
Elites and Democracy: Are they Compatible? Comparative Social Research, Vol. 23, 2007. Editors Engelstad, Fredrik & Gulbrandsen, Trygve. Oxford: Elsevier jai Press. 265-274.
Social Upheaval and Transformation of Elite Structures. The Case of Finland. Political Studies Vol
54, Nr 1, 2006, 23-42.
Finland: From Political Amateurs to Political Class. In: Borchert, Jens & Zeiss, Jürgen (eds.), The Political Class in Advanced
Democracies. Oxford: Oxford University Press 2003. 107-123.
Ruostetsaari, Ilkka & Mattila, Mikko (2002), 'Candidate-Centred Campaigns and their Effects in an Open List System'. In:
Farrel, David M. & Schmitt-Beck, Rüdiger (eds.), Do Campaigns Matter? Campaign Effects in Elections and Referendums. London: Routledge, 92-107.
From Political Amateur to Professional Politician and Expert Representative: Parliamentary Recruitment in Finland since
1863. In: Best, Heinrich & Cotta, Maurizio (eds.), Parliamentary Representatives in Europe
1848-2000. Legislative Recruitment and Careers in Eleven European Countries .Oxford University Press. Oxford 2000. 50-87.
The Anatomy of the Finnish Power Elite. Scandinavian Political Studies, Vol. 16, No 4, 1993, 305-337.