Norwegian defence discourse examined
Nina Græger has written a new article on Norwegian defence discourse. She analyses three factors explaining the strong and lasting opposition to internationalization of the Norwegian armed forces.
In the article Home and Away? Internationalism and Territory in the Post-1990 Norwegian Defence Discourse NUPI researcher Nina Græger discusses three thesis that explain the opposition to internationalization of the Norwegian armed forces after 1990.
- I find three possible explanations: the Armed Forces' role in Norwegian nation building and self-image; rooted practices in a large organisation such as the Armed Forces; and the intimate bonds between defence politics and other areas in Norwegian politics. Arguments pertaining to district politics are for example still valid when we discuss the armed forces, Græger says.
- A prominent example is the debate about where to build a new airbase for combat airplanes.
A multipolar world gives rise to a national focus
Græger goes on to discuss how changes in international relations, especially the transition to a multipolar world, has enhanced the focus on national tasks in Norwegian defence discourse.
- The rise of Russia and the importance of the north has given new relevance to topics of national defence in Norwegian defence discourse and practice. This is also evident in the Norwegian contributions to NATO-debates about a new strategic concept, says Græger.