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Nordic Total Defence after 2022: Convergence within Divergent Institutional Paths

Kokko, Maya Orvokki LU (2026) STVM25 20261
Department of Political Science
Abstract
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 transformed the European security environment, leading Finland and Sweden to join NATO and placing Finland, Sweden and Norway within a shared alliance framework. Despite this, the three countries retain distinct national total defence models. This thesis asks whether the post-2022 security environment is producing convergence in the total defence architectures of Finland, Sweden and Norway, or whether historically embedded institutional paths continue to sustain divergence. The study combines historical institutionalism with elements of securitization theory to explain institutional change, continuity and the securitization dynamics shaping them. Methodologically, it follows a qualitative... (More)
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 transformed the European security environment, leading Finland and Sweden to join NATO and placing Finland, Sweden and Norway within a shared alliance framework. Despite this, the three countries retain distinct national total defence models. This thesis asks whether the post-2022 security environment is producing convergence in the total defence architectures of Finland, Sweden and Norway, or whether historically embedded institutional paths continue to sustain divergence. The study combines historical institutionalism with elements of securitization theory to explain institutional change, continuity and the securitization dynamics shaping them. Methodologically, it follows a qualitative comparative case study design, using process tracing and comparative analysis of policy documents before and after 2022. The findings suggest partial convergence. All three countries are intensifying their securitization, moving in the same direction in strengthening civil-military cooperation, and doing so through layering and conversion within their existing institutional frameworks. Differences nevertheless persist and trace back to diverging historical trajectories in total defence. The thesis argues that the post-2022 environment has produced convergence in how the countries approach total defence and the significance of its comprehensiveness, but it has not affected convergence in a way that would dismantle the differing historical trajectories. (Less)
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author
Kokko, Maya Orvokki LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVM25 20261
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Total Defence, Nordic Security, NATO, Historical Institutionalism, Securitization
language
English
id
9226874
date added to LUP
2026-06-16 14:11:05
date last changed
2026-06-16 14:11:05
@misc{9226874,
  abstract     = {{Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 transformed the European security environment, leading Finland and Sweden to join NATO and placing Finland, Sweden and Norway within a shared alliance framework. Despite this, the three countries retain distinct national total defence models. This thesis asks whether the post-2022 security environment is producing convergence in the total defence architectures of Finland, Sweden and Norway, or whether historically embedded institutional paths continue to sustain divergence. The study combines historical institutionalism with elements of securitization theory to explain institutional change, continuity and the securitization dynamics shaping them. Methodologically, it follows a qualitative comparative case study design, using process tracing and comparative analysis of policy documents before and after 2022. The findings suggest partial convergence. All three countries are intensifying their securitization, moving in the same direction in strengthening civil-military cooperation, and doing so through layering and conversion within their existing institutional frameworks. Differences nevertheless persist and trace back to diverging historical trajectories in total defence. The thesis argues that the post-2022 environment has produced convergence in how the countries approach total defence and the significance of its comprehensiveness, but it has not affected convergence in a way that would dismantle the differing historical trajectories.}},
  author       = {{Kokko, Maya Orvokki}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Nordic Total Defence after 2022: Convergence within Divergent Institutional Paths}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}