Nordic research cooperation in a rapidly changing world: concrete proposals for developing cooperation

The Nordic Ministers of Foreign Affairs will meet later this month. Their meeting is an opportunity to discuss the potential for increased Nordic research cooperation at a time where the world around us is changing rapidly. Unexpected and practically unpredicted events have turned our perceptions of the world upside down. Brexit and a new European agenda, the continued rise of China, growing challenges to democracy, Russia’s posturing and actions, the global threat posed by climate change and of course the unprecedented challenges of tackling a worldwide pandemic. Add to this that the Biden administration setting a new agenda. We are witnessing dramatic changes to the world as we know it. 

It is important for us ”Nordics” to work together to have the proper tools to better understand and face these international changes as well as the challenges of the future. It is also important to understand where our countries have different interests, perceptions and policies. To contribute to understanding current and future changes we need to nurture a strong and vibrant research environment focused on the field of international relations.   

The changes in the world around us will have effects on our societies in the Nordic countries. The changes will affect the room for maneuvering in foreign and security policy. For instance, the security environment has changed profoundly. Just look at the Baltic Sea region after Russia’s annexation of Crimea. The Arctic is gaining significant new great power interests, partly due to the impact of climate change. We see the conflicts and sufferings but also opportunities in the Global South. And China, a growing superpower, is playing an increasingly larger and self-assured role. We also observe that the liberal world order with emphasis on respect for rule of law, human rights and democracy, of key importance to the Nordic states, is being challenged in many ways, including in Europe. 

Independent and high-quality research about international relations is an important element in our Nordic democratic societies. Researchers contribute to public policy and debate by analyzing and researching many of the burning international issues affecting our societies. Our five Nordic institutes are dedicated to high quality research of international relations and foreign policy. We already have some cooperation and concrete research projects, and we have operated an effective exchange scheme – funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers – but unfortunately the funding is running out this year. 

A recent report commissioned by the Nordic Ministers of Foreign Affairs (authored by Björn Bjarnason, former Minister of Justice and Education in Iceland), explored the possibilities for enhanced Nordic cooperation in a number of areas. The report is now on the Nordic Ministers tables. This report suggested numerous new initiatives to further strengthen the cooperation between the governments.  

The report also called for increased research cooperation between our Nordic Foreign Policy research institutes. Bjarnason suggested establishing and funding a dedicated research program within the overall framework of NordForsk in order to substantially enhance Nordic cooperation in tackling pressing international issues.  Such a program should cover the five Nordic countries with an estimated budget of ten million DKK per year with a five year timespan.  

We support the suggestion Bjarnason brings forward in his report. We share the belief that there is a great potential for further developing our Nordic cooperation. We thus respectfully urge our political decision makers to consider the very concrete recommendations in the Bjarnason report about enhanced Nordic research cooperation in our field of international relations.  

From our side, we are ready to continue the investment in enhancing Nordic research cooperation. We would like to draw the attention to some of the areas where our societies could benefit from knowledge-production, such as:  

• Changes in public perceptions over time of ”security” in our Nordic countries and how to build societal resilience in our countries.  
   

• A more comprehensive and systematic assessment of security dynamics in the Nordic region including an analysis of the potential for establishing a dialogue with Russia,  
   

• The Nordic countries current and potential future role as proactive and engaged actors for change in Europe and the world, and how the Nordics can best relate to China and the US in an age of increased geopolitical rivalry,  
   

• The potential for further development of defense and security cooperation between the Nordics (NORDEFCO), 
   

• The ”Nordic model” of (increasing) regional cooperation on defence and security issues in a region which is experiencing growing interest from the global powers, 

The combination of funding for such research and developing closer networks between researchers might also pave the way for what could in reality be a “virtual Nordic institute” in the future. 

sign. 

Christer Ahlstrôm, Director, Swedish Institute of International Affairs  (UI) 

Kristian Fischer, Director, Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS), 

Mika Aaltola, Director, Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA) 

Pia Hansson, Director, Institute of International Affairs at the University of Iceland (IIA) 

Ulf Sverdrup, Director, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI)