The Nordic Balance Revisited: Differentiation and the Foreign Policy Repertoires of the Nordic States

Abstract: Nordic governments frequently broadcast their ambition to do more together on the international stage. The five Nordic states (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Norway) also share many basic goals as foreign policy actors, including a steadfast and vocal commitment to safeguarding the 'rules-based international order'. Why then, do we not see more organized Nordic foreign policy collaboration, for example in the form of a joint 'grand strategy' on core foreign policy issues, or in relation to great powers and international organizations? In this article, we draw on Charles Tilly’s concept of 'repertoires' to address the discrepancy between ambitions and developments in Nordic foreign policy cooperation, highlighting how the bundles of policy instruments - repertoires - that each Nordic state has developed over time take on an identity-defining quality. We argue that the Nordic states have invested in and become attached to their foreign policy differences, niches, and 'brands'

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: Veröffentlichungsversion ; begutachtet (peer reviewed) ; In: Politics and Governance ; 8 (2020) 4 ; 110-119

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Mannheim
• (who): SSOAR, GESIS – Leibniz-Institut für Sozialwissenschaften e.V.
• (when): 2020
• Creator: Haugevik, Kristin ; Sending, Ole Jacob

Further information

• DOI: 10.17645/pag.v8i4.3380
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2023072608520184908731
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 10:51 AM CEST