Abstract
Denmark’s relationship with the European Union (EU) takes its point of departure in the Danish self-perception of being a minor power with a superior societal model. This calls for both adaptation to the power realities of the European political space and resistance against infringements of the Danish societal model, occasionally supplemented by attempts at actively influencing EU policy-making. Denmark’s general EU posture is reactive and defensive with a stronger focus on defending autonomy than influencing the future of the EU. It is pragmatic and functionalist, seeking primarily to utilize EU membership to secure the economic sustainability of the welfare state. Danish EU policy is increasingly characterized by dualism, navigating the integration dilemma in a way that allows for simultaneous protection against political integration and uploading of Danish interests to the EU level.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press |
| Publication date | 2019 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2019 |
Keywords
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Denmark
- European Union
- Scandinavia
- integration dilemma
- European policy
- Union politics