Otto Brusiin

Otto Brusiin (2 June 1906 – 31 October 1973) was a prominent Finnish teacher of law. He held teaching positions at Helsinki, starting in 1949, and later became an assistant professor there in 1955. He subsequently moved to Turku, where he became a professor in 1961. Prior to his academic career, Brusiin served as the director of the State Police (Valpo) from April 1945 to January 1946. He was recognized as an engaging teacher and maintained a strong international network. In 1957, he was appointed first vice president of the International Association of Legal and Social Philosophy. His scholarly work primarily dealt with legal history and Roman law. Brusiin's thought was shaped by modern philosophical anthropology and a sociological approach to understanding law, emphasizing that a legal norm can only be fully comprehended as an integral part of the society that created it. He was the father of Kaarina Suonio, who served as Finland's minister of education from 1982 to 1986.