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Constructing Security in the Shadow of Communities: A comparative study of Transatlantic and European influences on Norwegian and Swedish conceptualisations of security

Edström, Zigne LU (2021) STVM25 20211
Department of Political Science
Abstract
The Nordic states’ approaches to security have been painted out as differentiated because of their alliance affiliations. However, in the light of a changing security environment and increasing international collaboration on security issues, there is a need to re-evaluate the Nordic context and alliance-state relations in the construction of security. In this thesis, the influences of security communities on Nordic security policies are explored, and a constructivist framework for considering how they exert ideational power through securitisation is suggested. To test its explanatory power, I develop a methodological approach for examining how ideas about security are proposed at the community level, and adopted or declined at the state... (More)
The Nordic states’ approaches to security have been painted out as differentiated because of their alliance affiliations. However, in the light of a changing security environment and increasing international collaboration on security issues, there is a need to re-evaluate the Nordic context and alliance-state relations in the construction of security. In this thesis, the influences of security communities on Nordic security policies are explored, and a constructivist framework for considering how they exert ideational power through securitisation is suggested. To test its explanatory power, I develop a methodological approach for examining how ideas about security are proposed at the community level, and adopted or declined at the state level. By analysing and comparing the contextualised security environments and the constructed strategies of NATO and the EU with Norwegian and Swedish conceptualisations between 1999 and 2020, several discoveries are made. While the states appear to be substantially influenced by the securitisations proposed, uniquely shared similarities between security communities and member states are seldom identified. Correspondingly, the states also construct distinct ‘Nordic’ ideas. The thesis thus illustrates the need to further review presumptions about Nordic security, and a relevance in approaching alliance-state relations from the lens of security community and securitisation theory. (Less)
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author
Edström, Zigne LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVM25 20211
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
security, Nordic security, security community, securitisation, ideational power, constructivism, Transatlantic, European
language
English
id
9063014
date added to LUP
2021-09-29 14:22:40
date last changed
2021-09-29 14:22:40
@misc{9063014,
  abstract     = {{The Nordic states’ approaches to security have been painted out as differentiated because of their alliance affiliations. However, in the light of a changing security environment and increasing international collaboration on security issues, there is a need to re-evaluate the Nordic context and alliance-state relations in the construction of security. In this thesis, the influences of security communities on Nordic security policies are explored, and a constructivist framework for considering how they exert ideational power through securitisation is suggested. To test its explanatory power, I develop a methodological approach for examining how ideas about security are proposed at the community level, and adopted or declined at the state level. By analysing and comparing the contextualised security environments and the constructed strategies of NATO and the EU with Norwegian and Swedish conceptualisations between 1999 and 2020, several discoveries are made. While the states appear to be substantially influenced by the securitisations proposed, uniquely shared similarities between security communities and member states are seldom identified. Correspondingly, the states also construct distinct ‘Nordic’ ideas. The thesis thus illustrates the need to further review presumptions about Nordic security, and a relevance in approaching alliance-state relations from the lens of security community and securitisation theory.}},
  author       = {{Edström, Zigne}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Constructing Security in the Shadow of Communities: A comparative study of Transatlantic and European influences on Norwegian and Swedish conceptualisations of security}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}