Birds of a Feather Flock Together: Nordic Defense Cooperation in a Globalized World - A Qualitative Case Study on Cyber Defense within NORDEFCO

Abstract

The Nordic region consists of small states eager to cooperate in order to protect its citizens and territory. Since the end of the Cold War, the Nordic states have openly developed a closer cooperation on security and defense policy, and in 2009 the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO) was established. One increasingly important area of cooperation within this framework is the development of common cyber defense capabilities. Focusing on NORDEFCO as a regional cooperation, and the use of theories within the global governance approach, this thesis contributes to the discussion on regionalism in the case of cyber defense. By concentrating on motivations for regional cooperation, the thesis argues that the theoretical framework presented has large explanatory power as to why the Nordic states seek closer cooperation on cyber defense capabilities. Realism and constructivism combined can to a large extent explain why Nordic states seek closer regional cooperation despite membership in other systems/organizations working with developing the same policy area.