THE NORDIC MODEL AS A FOREIGN-POLICY INSTRUMENT - ITS RISE AND FALL

This article hypothesizes that the 'Nordic' model of society is primar ily of Swedish origin, with the other Nordic countries as its first ti er of followers. The idea of Nordic 'progressivity' has been a useful instrument in individual Nordic foreign policies- primarily as a 'bast ion' in official rhetoric. Postwar examples of such usefulness are off ered from three settings: the Nordic countries as a group in multilate ral diplomacy, individual Nordic countries in multilateral diplomacy, and Nordic countries bilaterally in dealings with a great power. Where as the Nordic bastion could still serve as a useful foreign policy ins trument, it has actually been discreetly abandoned from 1991, as part of a deliberate policy on the part of Sweden. The symbol of stable inn ovation in Northern Europe is gone. The main reason for this abandonme nt lies in perceived Swedish national interests: how Sweden has chosen to adapt to the European Union. Domestic Swedish party polemics may a lso have played a (secondary) role. This abandonment has generally adv erse implications for the foreign policies of the other Nordic countri es, depending on which all-European scenario prevails. Prospects for a future revival of the Nordic bastion do not seem bright.