Course directory

OAFP 8170 - The Nordics in the world: Geopolitical perspectives, economic power and social debates

OAFP 8170 · Fall semester 2026-2027

Language of tuition
English
Course type
Cours séminaire
Number of hours
24
Credits
4

Information

Description

The aim of the module is to explore the public policies led by the Nordic countries as

a whole, which may be homogeneous or heterogeneous depending on the topic, the

historical and geographic framework.

We will approach this exploration in two stages, the first dedicated to the fields of

geopolitics, diplomacy, security and defense issues, as well as conflict resolution and

development aid, and the second to social, demographic, economic and

environmental issues. We will start from facts, figures and theories, enabling to

identify the origins of a strategy and public policy, its features and outcomes and the

institutions and stakeholders involved in its implementation. We will look at how, from a local or national/domestic experience, the Nordic strategy becomes part of

diplomatic action and economic and socio-environmental interaction with other

countries and non- Nordic institutions.

Prerequisites

English proficiency required

Necessity to master fundamental, historical and technical knowledges related to the EU building

and EU policies as framework of the reflection

Knowledges in economy of sustainability and CSR will be appreciated

High interest in the transnational approaches in geopolitics, economics and socio-environmental

development in the northern Europe

Teaching format

According to the session, we could welcome guest speakers and organize group work

for case studies or oral presentations to facilitate the learnings.

Assessment

In addition to participating in the weekly seminar discussions, the students will act

as a speaker of an oral presentation followed by a paper writing. At the end of the

course, they will write one critical paper.

The components carry the following weight for the final mark:

Attendance Participation10%
One oral Presentation20%
One paper writing20%
One final Exam50%

Workload

  • During each session, it is relevant to attend orally to facilitate the

appropriation of knowledges and your own reflection

  • One oral Presentation: Max. 3 days before the oral presentation, the

student communicates the outlines as the basis of the oral presentation

  • After the oral presentation, the student has to send the Powerpoint of

the presentation

  • One paper writing: the paper writing is linked to the topic of the oral

presentation. The student can deliver it min. one week or max. 14 days

after the oral presentation

  • One final exam

Readings

Main readings 4

  1. Brommesson, Douglas, Ekengren, Ann-Marie From variation to convergence in turbulent times: foreign and security policy choices among the Nordics 2014–2023 Department of Political Science, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-6374-5964 Department of Political Science, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden. Michalski, Anna Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Government.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8865-1

  2. Jakub M. Godzimirski The Ukraine War, the New Geopolitics of Energy, and Norway NUPI, December 19, 2023

    Read online

  3. Leonie Schiedek, Innovation and Sustainable Development in the Nordics Five determinants of Finland and Sweden's preparedness for the green transformation, Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation Regional Programme Nordic Countries, 2022

  4. Michalski, Anna; Wockelberg, Helena The Nordic countries in EU public policy-making: Between change and continuity Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Government. Swedish Institute of International Affairs.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8865-1443 Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Government.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-9236-1636 2022 (English)In: Elgar E

Further readings 8

  1. Fåhraeus, David Processing personal health data in the context of the European online pharmacy market: lawful bases under the GDPR and Swedish law Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Law, Department of Law. In: Nordic Journal of European Law, E-ISSN 2003-1785, Vol. 6, no 1, p. 30-56, 2023 (English)

  2. Galtung, J., Fischer, D. (2013). Conflict Transformation by Peaceful Means (The Transcend Method). In: Johan Galtung. SpringerBriefs on Pioneers in Science and Practice, vol 5. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-32481-9_5

  3. Harald Baldersheim, Kurt Houlberg, Anders Lidström, Eva-Marin Hlynsdottir, Pekka Kettunen

  4. Helga Kristjánsdóttir Determinants of Nordic Competitiveness University of Iceland, February 2008, https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=bd552efb4cb957ee9e1cc51e8dac27f49198f4f2

  5. Klaus Beiter, Lucy Mallinson Academic freedom in Scandinavia: has the Nordic model survived? Terence Karran, , Pages 4-19 https://doi.org/10.1080/20020317.2023.2180795; Published online: 20 Mar 2023

  6. Local Autonomy in the Nordic Countries A report for the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities by Report https://www.ks.no/contentassets/c1f03188460a46e5aad5550a730c13bf/Nordic- LAI-N-Rapport-final-3-11apr19.pdf, April 11 2019

  7. Mariassunta Giannetti, Guanmin Liao, Jiaxing You, Xiaoyun Yu The Externalities of Corruption: Evidence from Entrepreneurial Firms in China Review of Finance, Volume 25, Issue 3, Pages 629–667, https://doi.org/10.1093/rof/rfaa038, May 2021,

  8. Niklasson, Birgitta and Robertsson, Felicia The Swedish MFA: Ready to Live Up to Expectations? in Aggestam, Karin and Towns, Ann E. , (eds.) Gendering Diplomacy and International Negotiation. Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan, pp 65-85., 2017

Teaching units

Unit no.Unit type Teaching unitsTeachers Number of hoursCredits
17410Cours séminaire The Nordics in the world: Geopolitical perspectives, economic power and social debates Elisabeth CHAILLET-LEFORESTIER244

Teachers

  • Elisabeth CHAILLET-LEFORESTIER