Announcements

NRIS invites contributions to a special issue on NATO and the Nordics

Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine has upended the post-Cold War European security architecture. In the midst of this seismic shift, NATO is rethinking its deterrence posture on the Eastern flank, while Finland and Sweden – traditionally militarily non-aligned – are in the midst of debates on the merits of joining the alliance in short order. These debates are driven not only by the changed security situation, but also profound changes in public opinion dynamics. In addition, Russia’s actions have created a newfound sense of urgency in Western Europe, most notably in Germany, to invest more in defence. This has implications for both Europe’s longer term ability to answer threats, military and otherwise, emanating from Russia, as well as the future shape of the perennial transatlantic burden sharing question, which has coloured debates on the alliance for decades.

The Nordic Review of International Studies invites contributions to a special issue, which aims to explore the ramifications of these changes for the Nordic/Baltic region and the NATO alliance writ large. We welcome articles exploring, for instance:

  • The history of NATO’s role in the Nordic/Baltic region
  • The changing NATO force posture, especially in the Nordic/Baltic region
  • The evolution of the relationship between NATO, on the one hand, and Finland and/or Sweden, on the other
  • The different approaches members states (e.g. Norway versus Denmark) have assumed as part of NATO
  • The public perceptions of the alliance in the Nordics and beyond
  • The views on potential Finnish and Swedish membership in other NATO member states
  • The views of other key powers (e.g. Russia, China, India, Brazil) on NATO enlargement and NATO’s global role in general

Please submit your paper proposal of 750–1 000 words no later than 30 June 2022. Accepted manuscripts are due in the early September and should adhere to the NRIS author guidelines. Paper proposals are submitted through our submission page.

  • NRIS invites contributions to a special issue on the politics of the Arctic

    2024-07-15

    The Arctic region has become a central arena of geopolitical struggles that concern climate and environmental policies, Russia's imperialist aggression, access to natural resources, global transit routes, the rights of indigenous people, and great power competition among other issues. The impact of climate change is threatening the livelihoods of people living in the Arctic region, which witnesses an increasing number of negative environmental effects resulting from global warming and the loss of biodiversity. The end of the Cold War reduced political tensions in the Arctic region and increased cooperation between the countries that have territory in the Arctic. Russia’s war of aggression has altered the power dynamics in the region, raising various political concerns related to the political, ecological, and social stability in the Arctic. The Nordic Review of International Studies (NRIS) invites contributions to a special issue, which aims to explore the changing political and social setting in the Arctic. The contributions can approach the Arctic historically, empirically, or theoretically from various perspectives to increase knowledge on the contemporary politics of the Arctic. 

    Please submit your paper proposal of 750–1 000 words no later than 20 August 2024. Accepted manuscripts are due in November 2024 and should adhere to the NRIS author guidelines. Paper proposals are submitted through our submission page.

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  • NRIS invites contributions to a special issue on Russia’s War of Aggression and the Nordics

    2023-11-29

    Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine has upended the European security architecture and poses a fundamental challenge to international order. In the process, changes have been unleashed in the foreign and security policies and domestic politics of the Nordic and Baltic countries. For Finland and Sweden this has meant an end to long-held their commitments to military non-alignment. Meanwhile, all the Nordics are, each in their own way, impacted by changes in NATO’s force posture, EU sanctions on Russia, the imperative to support Ukraine in its war effort and help refugees displaced by Russia’s attack. The slower than expected progress of the Ukrainian counter offensive is also raising questions about the willingness and ability of the West to continue its support for Ukraine in the event of a protracted war of attrition.

    The Nordic Review of International Studies invites contributions to a special issue on ”Russia’s War of Aggression in Ukraine and the Nordics”. Contributions can cover, for example:

    • Changes in foreign and security policies of the Nordic and Baltic countries as a result of the war
    • Domestic debates over areas like defence spending, refugee policy, support for Ukraine and sanctions on Russia
    • Nordic and Baltic public opinion dynamics relating to the war
    • The role of the Nordics on international fora like the EU, NATO or the UN
    • The views of other key international actors like the United States, China, Russia, India and Brazil on the policy shifts of the Nordics as a result of the war
    • The implications of the reaction to the war on other areas like climate and human rights policy

    Please submit your paper proposal of 750–1 000 words no later than 17 December 2023. Accepted manuscripts are due in April 2024 and should adhere to the NRIS author guidelines. Paper proposals are submitted through our submission page

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