2004/10/26 by Pernille Rieker · 75 citations
Social Sciences · #Arctic and Russian Policy Studies #Balance (ability) #Cold war #Computer security #Context (archaeology) #Economics #European integration #European union #Geography #International security #International trade #Law #Military, Security, and Education Studies #National security #Peacebuilding and International Security #Political economy #Political science #Politics #Public administration #Security policy #Security studies #Sociology
paper · doi:10.1177/0010836704047580
published in Cooperation and Conflict 39(4), 369-392 (SAGE Publishing)
openalex publication_date 2004/10/26 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
During the Cold War period, the security policies of the Nordic states were referred to as the ‘Nordic balance’ — a combination of policies aimed at preserving a balance between the two superpowers. While the end of the Cold War paved the way for a different and more complex security approach, it took some time before the Nordic states responded to this new security context. The article argues that, rather than adapting to the changing conditions created by the end of the Cold War, the Nordic states changed their security approaches in response to the European integration process. It attempts to show how different phases in the post-Cold War European integration process have influenced the national security approaches of Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway. While all four security approaches have been Europeanized, the speed and the character of these changes seem to vary due to a combination of differing ties to the European Union and differing security policy traditions.