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Brewing peace, one cup at a time: A qualitative study examining the role of fika within Scandinavian peace diplomacy

Andersson, Elin LU and Gabrielsson, Dannicke LU (2025) FKVK02 20251
Department of Political Science
Abstract
This thesis investigates the potential role of informal breaks within Scandinavian peace diplomacy, with a particular focus on the tradition of fika - a social coffee-break, put simply. While formal diplomatic processes are often the focus, we argue that informal moments such as fika can offer valuable opportunities for fostering additional trust, ease tensions, and encourage open dialogue in ways that rigid diplomatic environments often cannot. By combining micro-sociology, everyday peace, and culinary diplomacy, we conceptualise fika not merely as a cultural curiosity but as a meaningful diplomatic tool. Drawing from different types of material - including interviews and literature review - we have illustrated nine different perspectives... (More)
This thesis investigates the potential role of informal breaks within Scandinavian peace diplomacy, with a particular focus on the tradition of fika - a social coffee-break, put simply. While formal diplomatic processes are often the focus, we argue that informal moments such as fika can offer valuable opportunities for fostering additional trust, ease tensions, and encourage open dialogue in ways that rigid diplomatic environments often cannot. By combining micro-sociology, everyday peace, and culinary diplomacy, we conceptualise fika not merely as a cultural curiosity but as a meaningful diplomatic tool. Drawing from different types of material - including interviews and literature review - we have illustrated nine different perspectives on the role that fika can take on within the context of Scandinavian peace diplomacy. Through athematic analysis, we identified three overarching themes. First, fika can act as a generator of emotional connection (A) - where moments of informal interaction can shift the tone of a room. Second, it can function as a humanising practice (B) - creating space for individuals to step out of roles and engage with one another on a more personal level. Third, we found that fika can be used as a tool to forward conversation (C) - for example through bypassing formal obstructions, or opening up for new types of dialogue. Taken together, we hope these patterns can prove that fika within Scandinavian peace diplomacy is not simply a social coffee-break - it can, under the right conditions, contribute much more. (Less)
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author
Andersson, Elin LU and Gabrielsson, Dannicke LU
supervisor
organization
course
FKVK02 20251
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Fika, Scandinavia, Peace diplomacy, Micro-sociology, Everyday peace, Culinary diplomacy
language
English
additional info
Stort tack till Anders Lidén, Peter Wallensteen och Ulla Andrén för att ni tog er tid att hjälpa oss med vårt uppsatsarbete.
id
9189511
date added to LUP
2025-08-08 11:22:41
date last changed
2025-08-08 11:22:41
@misc{9189511,
  abstract     = {{This thesis investigates the potential role of informal breaks within Scandinavian peace diplomacy, with a particular focus on the tradition of fika - a social coffee-break, put simply. While formal diplomatic processes are often the focus, we argue that informal moments such as fika can offer valuable opportunities for fostering additional trust, ease tensions, and encourage open dialogue in ways that rigid diplomatic environments often cannot. By combining micro-sociology, everyday peace, and culinary diplomacy, we conceptualise fika not merely as a cultural curiosity but as a meaningful diplomatic tool. Drawing from different types of material - including interviews and literature review - we have illustrated nine different perspectives on the role that fika can take on within the context of Scandinavian peace diplomacy. Through athematic analysis, we identified three overarching themes. First, fika can act as a generator of emotional connection (A) - where moments of informal interaction can shift the tone of a room. Second, it can function as a humanising practice (B) - creating space for individuals to step out of roles and engage with one another on a more personal level. Third, we found that fika can be used as a tool to forward conversation (C) - for example through bypassing formal obstructions, or opening up for new types of dialogue. Taken together, we hope these patterns can prove that fika within Scandinavian peace diplomacy is not simply a social coffee-break - it can, under the right conditions, contribute much more.}},
  author       = {{Andersson, Elin and Gabrielsson, Dannicke}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Brewing peace, one cup at a time: A qualitative study examining the role of fika within Scandinavian peace diplomacy}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}