Scandinavian Influence in Global Governance

Scandinavian Influence in Global Governance explores how Denmark, Norway and Sweden exercised influence within through International Organisations between 1970 and 2020.The Scandinavian states are well known for holding progressive values within global politics, as well as for their effective multilateral diplomacy. This book attempts to move beyond traditional accounts of Scandinavian or Nordic exceptionalism. It explores how Scandinavian influence was produced through the three states’ sustained investment within International Organisations, their diplomatic, political networks, and political entrepreneurship, as well as regional interstate cooperation. Drawing on original staffing data, a practitioner survey, 29 elite interviews, and extensive archival research, it examines how Scandinavian actors converted cultural and economic capital into policy influence. The books include comparative studies of the Scandinavian states’ official development assistance, environment, gender, and security policies. These case studies demonstrate that the three states’ strategies were particularly effective where expertise, and reputational credibility mattered. However, they often encountered significant constraints from domestic interest groups, institutional structures, and the preferences of great powers.The book offers a new account of how small states and individual practitioners can shape global policymaking and will interest scholars and students of International Relations, global governance, International Organisations, Scandinavian politics, diplomacy, and foreign relations. Additionally, it will be valuable to practitioners concerned with multilateral diplomacy and international negotiation, as well as small-state strategies.