38 Copyright © 2015, IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. Chapter 2 DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-8553-6.ch002 ABSTRACT The wolf is an endangered species. Principles for the conservation of wolves have been agreed upon internationally through, for example, European Union mechanisms. However, international agreements and goals are often in opposition with needs and opinions at the national and, especially, local level. Difering cultural and practical perceptions have not been taken into account in the formulation of internationalising policies. Results of such ‘top-down’ policies include lack of respect and commitment at the local level. Ultimately, the wolf loses in this game. The article examines how various governing elements, orders, and modes of wolf conservation and policy have developed in Finland from the 1960s to the early 2010s. It will be shown how ecological concerns have been taken seriously in the design of the wolf policy while societal concerns have not gained similar interest or strategic planning. INTRODUCTION The grey wolf (Canis lupus) is a species of many contradictions. It has suffered from negative cultural representations and was hunted to extinction in many European countries in the 19th century. This vicious circle has been the main thread of wolf–human encounters for decades, if not centuries. The percep- tion of the wolf as a nuisance continues to be enforced in, for example, Finland by the fact that wolves cause damage by killing domesticated animals such as reindeer and sheep but also dogs, and sometimes they cause fear in people as well (Kojola & Kuittinen, 2002; Mykrä, Vuorisalo, & Pohja-Mykrä, 2005; Palviainen, 2000). The wolf has been one of the animals most widely dispersed around the world. It has been estimated that there were about two million wolves 5,000 years ago (Hinrichsen, 2000). At some point, wolves were competing with humans for nature’s food resources. Furthermore, the relationship between wildlife Elements, Orders, and Modes of Governance in the Development of Finnish Wolf Policy Outi Ratamäki University of Eastern Finland, Finland