Nordic Review of International Studies

Nationalism is on the rise. Global powers, such as the United States and China, as well as middle powers, such as France, Germany and Britain, increasingly consider their national interest as a precondition for action on the international stage. This has led to a leadership vacuum in international affairs, particularly when it comes to cooperation in multilateral venues. The retreat of the United States from key multilateral conventions and commitments is particularly consequential for the Euro-Atlantic alliance. In the EU, cracks in the Franco–German leadership tandem and the EU’s inability to act in the face of blocking behavior by Hungary and others, has led to the externalization of decision-making to so-called 'coalitions of the willing', composed of both EU and non-EU states.

For small states, such as the Nordics, this moment of disorder is also an opportunity. The waning of stable coalitions creates room for alternative partnerships. In the EU context, the Nordic and Baltic states now have momentum to punch above their weight as their geographical position on Europe’s Eastern flank has become strategically central. But can small states capitalise on this, taking more assertive positions and assuming leadership in regional and international affairs?

The Nordic Review of International Studies invites contributions to a special issue on coalitions and partnerships in international politics, with contributions focusing on themes such as:

• Different perceptions and histories of partnerships and alliance-formation across the Nordic region
• The role of the Nordic countries and their partnerships in major international crises of the moment, including Gaza and Ukraine
• The role of the coalitions of the willing in EU/European decision-making: how durable is this phenomenon?
• What is the position of the Nordic countries when it comes to different forms of 'differentiated integration' in the EU? Is this necessary e.g., for prospective EU enlargement?

Please submit your paper proposal of 750–1 000 words no later than 14 December 2025. Accepted manuscripts are due in the early June 2026 and should adhere to the NRIS author guidelines. Paper proposals are submitted through our submission page.