The first authoritative account concerning the lack of conflict in the Nordic region, this text evaluates why the area is more peaceful than the rest of Europe and whether there is a lesson to be learned from the area. Looking at cases where parts of the Nordic area have started to break away from the others and how this was achieved without violence, it also explores the settlement of demarcation disputes. By using this region as an example for the rest of Europe, this book tests the hypothesis of the Nordic Peace using a number of approaches including historical, political science, peace research, sociology and law. This highly insightful piece of research is relevant for courses in international relations and European studies.

    Contents: Introduction, Clive Archer; The case of Norway and Sweden, Magnus Ericson; Denmark’s peaceful release of Iceland, Gunnar Karlsson; The Faroe Islands: the birth of a new microstate?, Lise Lyck; Greenland and the challenges for the Danish realm, Lise Lyck; The Ã…land Islands issue, Pertti Joenniemi; The Hesselø episode, HÃ¥kan Wiberg; The Icelandic-Norwegian maritime conflicts, Tore Henriksen; Schleswig/Slesvig and the minority question, Jørgen Kühl; The language issue in Finland, Henrik Stenius; The non-autonomous minority groups in the Nordic countries, Lauri Hannikainen and Sia Spiliopoulou Ã…kermark; Norden beyond security community, Pertti Joenniemi; Index.

    Biography

    Clive Archer, Pertti Joenniemi

    'The contributors to this important volume significantly enrich our understanding of such ideas as zones of peace, the phenomenon of integration and the security community model of Karl Deutsch.’ Professor Harvey Starr, University of South Carolina, USA ’The peace and security community among the Nordic countries has resulted from a unique historical process that cannot be captured by standard models of international relations. It requires a more complex political and cultural analysis...this volume integrates in a refreshing manner theoretical ideas and the detailed analyses of the Nordic contrasts and turning points’. Professor Raimo Väyrynen, Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, Finland 'Though the success story of Nordic Europe’s 20th-century peace and prosperity might tempt to shallow preaching, the collaborators in this volume have taken a rigorously analytical approach to their work...The result is a study that sees the phenomenon of Northern peacefulness in modulated, historically sensitive terms, a study that provides cautious lessons in the political creativity needed at all levels of society in order to sustain peace.' Dr Noel Parker, University of Copenhagen, Denmark 'The essays are curiously diverse in scope and ambition - which does not contradict the fact that The Nordic Peace is an informative and sometimes thought-provoking addition to the literature.' Journal of Peace Research