Theme

The Nordic countries

The Nordic countries are among the most affluent in the world, and represent a stabil and well-functioning part of a changing Europe.

"The Nordic countries" is the historical and geographical name of the area consisting og Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The area has over 26 million inhabitants in total and an area of around 3,5 million square kilometres. Combined, the Nordic economy equals those of Russia and Spain. The Nordic countries have a long history as a cultural community, for example expressed through the establishment of the Nordic Council in 1959 and the Nordic Council of Ministers in 1971. The countries operate as a coordinated political block in many international contexts, and they are affiliated with the Nordic Passport Union, the Council of Europe, the EEA, the UN, and the Schengen Treaty. However, while Norway, Denmark and Iceland are members of NATO, Finland and Sweden are not. And similarly, while Denmark, Sweden and Finland are members of the European Union, Iceland and Norway are not.

Nordic cooperation on foreign and security policy is the core in NUPI's research on Nordic issues. Important questions are how the Nordic countries' different alliance policies affect their ability to cooperate in practice, and what possibilities the Nordic countries have as a block in international politics.

News about The Nordic countries

What affects Nordic defence cooperation?
13 Apr 2021
- - Ane Teksum Isbrekken
We have lacked good tools for analysing security cooperation in medium-sized regions such as the Nordic areas, according to Karsten Friis (NUPI). His most recent article offers a solution.

Defence Security policy Norden
Nordic research cooperation is more important than ever in a rapidly changing world: concrete proposals for developing cooperation

10 Feb 2021

The Nordic Ministers of Foreign Affairs were meeting 10 February. Their virtual meeting was an opportunity to discuss the potential for increased Nordic research cooperation at a time where the world around us is changing rapidly.

Diplomacy Utenrikspolitikk Norden
How do the Nordics position themselves in the new European security landscape?
19 Mar 2020
- - Ane Teksum Isbrekken
In a new joint report, researchers from NUPI and research institutes in the Nordics have investigated this.

Security policy Defence Norden NATO Europe The EU

All news about The Nordic countries (total 10)

Publications about The Nordic countries

Publication : Academic article
Why do firms import via merchants in entrepôt countries rather than directly from the source?
2021
- - Hege Medin
An increasing share of world trade happens indirectly via merchants in third countries, so-called entrepôts. This article uses an exhaustive and highly disaggregated dataset for Norwegian firms’ import transactions to study the motives for importing through such merchants rather than directly from the...
International economics Trade Internasjonale investeringer Globalisering Norden
Publication : Popular scientific article
How states manage international censure: Norway's response to criticism of its Child Welfare Services
2021
- - Kristin Haugevik
When states are criticised, they normally recognise, reject or counter the critique. Yet they could listen to and contain criticism without directly rejecting or recognising it. Using criticism of Norway’s Child Welfare Services as an example, Kristin Haugevik and Cecilie Basberg Neumann show that diplomatic...
Diplomacy Utenrikspolitikk Europe Norden
Publication : Academic article
Reputation crisis management and the state: Theorising containment as diplomatic mode
2021
- - Kristin Haugevik
This article theorises containment as a diplomatic response mode for states when faced with potentially harmful attacks on their international identity and reputation. Despite widespread agreement in International Relations (IR) scholarship that identities matter in the context of state security, studies...
Security policy Diplomacy Utenrikspolitikk Norden