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
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Nordic research cooperation is more important than ever in a rapidly changing world: concrete proposals for developing cooperation
10 Feb 2021The 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.
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How do the Nordics position themselves in the new European security landscape?
19 Mar 2020In a new joint report, researchers from NUPI and research institutes in the Nordics have investigated this.
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Comprehensive report on Nordic-China cooperation
2 Jan 2020Joint Nordic relations with China are evolving but have clear limitations.
Publications about The Nordic countries
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Publication : Interview
Russland, Norge og NATO i nord
Interview with NRK Finnmark about Russia's relations with Norway and NATO after the deployment of the US military aircraft in Norway in 2021. -
Publication : Kronikk
The Nordic shift: China’s uphill battle for public approval in northern Europe
A recent survey shows that even the champions of free trade in Europe’s high north are reassessing their approach to Chinese investment. -
Publication : Interview
Forventer økt spenning i norske nærområder under Biden
Short comments on Russian approach and expectations in connection with trasnfer of power from Donald Trump to Joe biden as the US 46th president.
Research projects about The Nordic countries
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Foto: Kyrre Lien/NTB Scanpix Research project
Defending and renewing multilateralism: Estonia and Norway in the UN Security Council
2020 - 2021 (Ongoing)This project will explore possibilities to enhance Estonian-Norwegian bilateral cooperation in promoting multilateral cooperation and a rules-based global order in the framework of the United Nations Security...
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Research project
When every act is war: Post-Crimea conflict dynamics and Russian foreign policy (WARU)
2020 - 2023 (Ongoing)Tension between great powers in world politics is escalating rapidly. What are the driving forces behind deteriorating relations? Can we explain them solely by the ‘aggressiveness’ of the other (be they...
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Research project
Mitigating Perceived Threats in Russian and Norwegian Public Discourse (THREAT-DEFUSER)
2020 - 2023 (Ongoing)THREAT-DEFUSER integrates state-of-the-art political science, linguistics, and media studies methods to forge a new multidisciplinary approach to hybrid warfare. The primary objective is long term strategic...