Report: the time is right to promote the Nordic “peace” brand

NordenBladet – The momentum and willingness are growing for the Nordic countries to work even more closely together on peace and conflict resolution. Opportunities are available right now to boost the “Nordic peace brand”, according to a new Nordic report.

The growing Nordic interest in working together on peace and conflict resolution is partly due to international political trends, according to the report.

The growing threat to multilateralism and international norms is one reason that the Nordic countries are increasingly willing to work together, but they also believe that co-operation has practical benefits. The growing interest is also partly explained by geopolitical changes in areas close to the Nordic Region.

The report also points out, on the other hand, that there is no great willingness to formalise Nordic co-operation on peace and conflict resolution.

The Centre for Resolution of International Conflicts (CRIC) at the University of Copenhagen conducted the analysis on behalf of the Nordic Council of Ministers, which was acting on a recommendation from the Nordic Council. The report New Nordic Peace: Nordic Peace and Conflict Resolution Effort was published on 9 April in conjunction with the Nordic Council Theme Session 2019.

Two priorities
The report highlights two areas in particular where there are good reasons for the Nordic countries to work more closely together: women, peace and security, which the report recommends should be stressed as part of the Nordic peace brand, and preventive diplomacy and conflict resolution.

“Wide-ranging Nordic co-operation on conflict resolution and promoting a Nordic peace brand should be in the foreign-policy interests of all of the Nordic countries. I hope that the Nordic governments will welcome the report and implement the conclusions that they consider relevant for the peace work of the future. Given the current international political situation, the time is now right to work more closely together,” says the President of the Nordic Council, Jessica Polfjärd.

The report also identifies a new trend, called “non-exclusive Nordic co-operation”, in which the Nordic countries work alongside other regional and global players. The report sees this as a method that can provide inspiration for future Nordic work on peace and conflict resolution.

The report is in English. It is free and available for download HERE.

Source: Norden.org