Theorising post-Cold War Danish Foreign Policy: the Expansion from one dominant to Seven Distinct Approaches

TY - JOUR

T1 - Theorising post-Cold War Danish Foreign Policy

T2 - the Expansion from one dominant to Seven Distinct Approaches

AU - Larsen, Henrik

PY - 2018/8/30

Y1 - 2018/8/30

N2 - The number of theoretical approaches used to study Danish foreign policy has multiplied since the Cold War period when just one approach – adaptation theory – was dominant. This article aims to outline the main theoretical approaches after the Cold War. The existence of several approaches is important because the different theories provide different views of what the important elements in Danish foreign policy are. The article shows that the view of significant elements in Danish foreign policy – and what are judged to be significant elements in Danish foreign policy – differs quite considerably according to the theoretical approach drawn on. It presents seven approaches: 1) adaptation theory, 2) constellation theory, 3) Denmark as a smart state, 4) lessons and traditions, 5) discourse analysis, 6) Denmark as a semi-integrated foreign policy actor with the EU, and 7) Denmark as a competition state.

AB - The number of theoretical approaches used to study Danish foreign policy has multiplied since the Cold War period when just one approach – adaptation theory – was dominant. This article aims to outline the main theoretical approaches after the Cold War. The existence of several approaches is important because the different theories provide different views of what the important elements in Danish foreign policy are. The article shows that the view of significant elements in Danish foreign policy – and what are judged to be significant elements in Danish foreign policy – differs quite considerably according to the theoretical approach drawn on. It presents seven approaches: 1) adaptation theory, 2) constellation theory, 3) Denmark as a smart state, 4) lessons and traditions, 5) discourse analysis, 6) Denmark as a semi-integrated foreign policy actor with the EU, and 7) Denmark as a competition state.

KW - Faculty of Social Sciences

KW - Danish foreign policy

KW - Theory

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1397-2480

SP - 77

EP - 114

JO - Danish Foreign Policy Review

JF - Danish Foreign Policy Review

ER -