Bandymų plėtoti bendradarbiavimą gynybos srityje tarp Šiaurės šalių buvo, tačiau nė viena iniciatyva iki šiol nesusilaukė sėkmės, dažnai vienos iš Šiaurės šalių sprendimas sužlugdydavo bandymus pasiekti bendrus susitarimus gynybos ir saugumo srityje. Pasibaigus Šaltajam karui, atsivėrė galimybės naujiems gynybos projektams. Tačiau Šiaurės šalių gynybos identitetai, formavęsi nuo Antrojo pasaulinio karo pabaigos, liko tokie patys. Dėl to naujos iniciatyvos Šiaurės šalyse dėl Jungtinės Šiaurės šalių federacijos reikėjo laukti 20 metų ir vis dėlto nėra aišku, ar ji bus sėkminga, nes bendradarbiavimo gynybos srityje plėtojimo sėkmė priklauso ne tik nuo šalių interesų, tikslų, grėsmių saugumo srityje sutapimo, bet ir jų gynybos identitetų suderinamumo. Šio darbo tyrimo objektas yra Šiaurės šalių (Danijos, Islandijos, Norvegijos, Suomijos ir Švedijos) bendri gynybos identitetų elementai ir galimybė jiems artėti. Darbo tikslas – išskirti Šiaurės šalių gynybos identitetams būdingus bruožus. Kad būtų pasiektas darbo tikslas, išsikelti šie uždaviniai: remiantis konstruktyvistine tarptautinių santykių teorija apibrėžti gynybos identiteto sąvoką, išskirti esminius jos elementus, bei tyrimo analizės kintamuosius; išskirti ir išnagrinėti Šiaurės šalių gynybos identitetų esminius kintamuosius; išanalizuoti Šiaurės šalių gynybos identitetų panašumus bei skirtumus, įvertinti palankumą bendradarbiavimo gynybos srityje plėtrai ir galimybę konstruoti kolektyvinį Šiaurės šalių gynybos identitetą... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / There were attempts to develop the defence cooperation between the Nordic states often were interrupted by one or two of the Nordic states. The end of the Cold War opened up opportunities for new defence projects. But the Nordic defence identities which were shaped since the Second World War, remained the same. Therefore, Nordic states had to wait for 20 years for the new common defence cooperation initiative to emerge. Still it is not clear whether it will be successful, because the success of cooperation in the field of defence development depends not only on the overlap of parties’ interests, objectives, threats, security, but also on the compatibility of their defence identities compatibility. The object of this paper is the common elements of defence identities of the Nordic states, and the possibility for them to ally. The aim of this paper aim is to distinguish the characteristic features of defence identities of the Nordic states. To achieve the aim the following goals are settled: to define the concept of the defence identity, highlight its essential elements and analytical variables on the basis of constructivist theory of international relations; to single out and examine the essential variables of the defence identities of he Nordic states; to analyze the similarities and differences between defence identities of the Nordic states, to assess the favor on the development of cooperation in the field of defence, and the possibility to construct a collective Nordic... [to full text]

With the aim of contributing to the theoretical discussion of small state behaviour, this thesis investigates the Nordic state’s security strategies concerning the Arctic region. The applied theoretical framework is based upon a traditional state-centric understanding of security to investigate if the predicted behaviour derived from small state theory can be captured in the Nordic states' security strategies in the Arctic region. The study is conducted by a qualitative content analysis utilising Jacob Westberg’s theorisation of security strategies through the categories of context, ends, means and ways. The state-centric security focus is steered by the traditional realist focus of small states and motivated by the deteriorating geopolitical sphere currently occurring in the Arctic region, where the small Nordic states operate next to great powers. The results demonstrate that several aspects can be argued to coincide with the assumptions derived from small state theory, albeit some do not fully conform. Most apparent are the aspects relating to the importance of alliances and cooperation. Differences are also deductible between the small state's strategies, primarily between Denmark and Norway vis-a-vis Finland and Sweden. This incoherency enables a discussion of the relevance of states' size in the case of the Arctic theatre and of the noticeable shift in the states' referent security object. The analytical framework captures issues that point towards a more state-centric security understanding, presenting new threats to the state's survival in the Arctic region.

This master thesis analyses development of social policy within the European Union. Furthermore, it focuses on the European social models. The biggest part is devoted to social policies in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden and the way how the policies are financed. Additionally, the thesis concentrates on the globalization and the global crisis. In this context, possible solutions and perspectives for future development are suggested.