Vallankäyttönä

Vallankäyttönä is a Finnish linguistic construction that means “in the exercise of power” or “as an act of wielding authority.” It is formed from vallankäyttö (the act of using or wielding power) with the essive suffix -nä, which marks the manner or capacity in which something is done. The phrase signals that the action is carried out under the authority of those who hold power, often in an official or coercive context.

Etymology and function: vallankäyttö consists of valta (power, authority) and käyttö (use, application). The essive case -nä expresses a temporary state or role, so vallankäyttönä describes actions performed as part of the powers vested in an institution or individual. In use, the term emphasizes the official or formal character of the act rather than ordinary private action.

Usage and contexts: Vallankäyttönä is common in political science, law, public administration and ethics discussions. It helps distinguish decisions and measures taken within a authority framework from those arising from personal choice. For example, a government’s decree can be described as enacted vallankäyttönä if it is issued under statutory authority with enforceable effect. The expression often invites consideration of legitimacy, proportionality, accountability and the rule of law when assessing such actions.

See also: vallankäyttö, valta, oikeusvaltioperiaate. The concept highlights the boundary between legitimate official action and potential abuse of power, and is frequently used in analyses of governance, legality and public ethics.