Defending Small States: Norwegian and Danish Defense Policies in the Post-Cold War Era

摘要

Norway and Denmark are two countries with a great many similarities. The two states have closely related Scandinavian languages and cultures, democratic political systems, generous welfare states and are members of the same military alliance. For many non-Scandinavians, the two states may appear almost politically and socially indistinguishable. Even very similar countries can sometimes develop marked differences in particular sectors of society. This article will argue that defense policy is one such marked difference.rnAfter the Cold War, Norway was reluctant to get involved in international military operations and initially did so only with low-risk support units. Denmark, however, wholeheartedly embraced the expeditionary employment of its armed forces, and Danish units were frequently among the few western forces to engage in combat. In the two decades that have passed since the end of the Cold War, Norwegian and Danish defense policies have therefore diverged significantly. How can this difference be explained?