Lilliputians Amongst Gullivers in the Arctic Region : A qualitative content analysis applying small state theory to the Nordic states' national security strategies in the Arctic region.

• Main Author: Trouvé, Mikaela
• Format: Bachelor Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Försvarshögskolan 2022
• Subjects: Arctic region; small state theory; Nordic states; security strategy; qualitative content analysis; Political Science; Statsvetenskap; Arctic; Norway
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:fhs:diva-11455

With the aim of contributing to the theoretical discussion of small state behaviour, this thesis investigates the Nordic state’s security strategies concerning the Arctic region. The applied theoretical framework is based upon a traditional state-centric understanding of security to investigate if the predicted behaviour derived from small state theory can be captured in the Nordic states' security strategies in the Arctic region. The study is conducted by a qualitative content analysis utilising Jacob Westberg’s theorisation of security strategies through the categories of context, ends, means and ways. The state-centric security focus is steered by the traditional realist focus of small states and motivated by the deteriorating geopolitical sphere currently occurring in the Arctic region, where the small Nordic states operate next to great powers. The results demonstrate that several aspects can be argued to coincide with the assumptions derived from small state theory, albeit some do not fully conform. Most apparent are the aspects relating to the importance of alliances and cooperation. Differences are also deductible between the small state's strategies, primarily between Denmark and Norway vis-a-vis Finland and Sweden. This incoherency enables a discussion of the relevance of states' size in the case of the Arctic theatre and of the noticeable shift in the states' referent security object. The analytical framework captures issues that point towards a more state-centric security understanding, presenting new threats to the state's survival in the Arctic region.