Bargaining Schengen: A comparative study of visa politics in Finland and Norway

Abstract

This thesis examines and compares two cases of national visa practices within the Schengen area – the Finnish and the Norwegian case. The study particularly aims to compare how Finland and Norway negotiate new Schengen rules and regulations to shape their everyday visa politics, as well as their respective visa regimes with Russia. In what ways are the two cases different, which country has the most efficient practices, how can the differences between Finland and Norway be explained and what implications do they have? Taking these questions into account, the study provides a discussion on the numerous dimensions of national visa politics, arguing that Finland practices its visa policies more efficiently than Norway and that this can be best explained by its history of bordering traditions.