The Nordic and the Continental European Dimensions in Scandinavian Integration: NORDEK as a Case Study
| Date | 01 November 1971 |
| DOI | 10.1177/001083677100600303 |
| Published date | 01 November 1971 |
| Author | Gunnar P. Nielsson |
| Subject Matter | Article |
The Nordic
and
the Continental European Dimensions
In
Scandinavian Integration:
NORDEK
as a Case Study
GUNNAR
P. NIELSSON
University of Southern California
Niclsson, G. P.
The
Nordic and the Continental European Dimensions in Scandinavian
Integration: NORDEK as a Case Study. Coopcrutiou and Conflict, VI, 1971, 173-81.
This paper was delivered at the University of Aberdeen's conference on 'Scandinavia
and European Integration' in March, 197I. There are four sections, the First of which
is a chronological review of the Nordek case. Secondly, an analysis of the Nordek
Draft
Treaty
provisions shows that the treaty represents the most far-reaching step in
regard to the integration of social and economic policy spheres yet considered in
Scandinavia.
Thirdly, the key factor in explaining the collapse of the
Nordek
plan is the increasing
penetration of European 'high politics' into Nordic cooperative arrangements. Political
stalemate concerning expanded membership of the European Economic Community
favored Nordek.
That
stalemate was broken after de Gaulle's political demise.
The
changed conditions brought into sharp relief the incompatibility of Finland's neutrality
policy with participation in a Nordek which would include such potential EEC members
as Denmark and Norway.
Finally, future prospects are examined through the construction of four basic choices
presented as models. The Greater European model and the Divided Scandinavia model
contain the international dimensions of the dilemma presently facing the Scandinavians.
Gunnar P. Nielsson, University of Southern California.
For
the
past
three
days
we
have
listened
to
and
discussed
excellent
speeches
which
focused
primarily
on
the
single
country
perspective,
the
Scandinavian
position
in
an
East-West
strategic
perspective,
and
the
European
Common
Market
represen-
tative's
discussion
of
the
Scandinavian
countries'
prospects
for
membership
and
association
or
other
forms
of
relationships
with
that
organization.
I
should
like, in
this
final
session
of
the
conference,
to
turn
to
an
exclusively
regional
international
perspective.
I
will
focus
my
presentation
on
three
themes:
the
major
characteristics
of
Scandinavian
integration
schemes;
the
problems
connected
with
a
confrontation
between
a
Nordic
and
a
continental
Euro-
pean
dimension
in
integration
develop-
ments
in
Scandinavia;
and
the
implications
of
the
choices to be
made
in
the
near
future
by
the
Scandinavians
in
regard
to
international
integration
policies.
The
first
two
themes
can
be
developed
by a
case
study
approach
in
which
the
Nordek
plans
of 1968 to 1970
can
serve
as
both
a
common
reference
point
in
regard
to
information
about
recent
developments
and
a
framework
for
interpretations
of
the
reasons
for
the
success
and
failure
of
Scandinavian
integration
attempts.
In
order
to
present
a
comprehensive
overview
of
future
prospects
and
choices,
I
have
decided
to
present
four
models
which
sketch
potential
future
outcomes
of
the
confrontation
between
Nordic
and
con-
tinental
European
dimensions
in
Scandi-
navian
integration
developments.
Let
me
first,
however,
turn
to a
descriptive
account
of
the
chronological
development
and
the
major
substantive
characteristics
of
the
Nordek
plan,
I.
CHRONOLOGY
OF
THE
NORDEK
CASE
Compared
to
previous
attempts
to
form
a
Nordic
Customs
Union
in
the
1950's,
the
remarkable
feature
of
the
Nordek
case
is
the
speed
with
which
the
planning
phase
progressed.
The
proposal
to
attempt
again
the
formation
of a
Nordic
Customs
Union
was
made
by
the
Danish
Prime
Minister,
Mr.
Hilmar
Baunsgaard,
at
the
Nordic
Council
Session in
February
1968.
This
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