Regionalization in Northern Europe: Origins and Development Dynamics

Abstract

Based on a wide range of documentary sources, the article presents a historical dynamics of regionalization processes in Northern Europe as well as identifies their strategic and ideological-political foundations. The theoretical framework of the study is the synthesis of the concepts of old and new regionalism, since regionalization, which began in the mid-20th century, has evolved over time and gradually spread to geographically remote territories. Along with states, non-state actors became active subjects of region-building. The research determined that the historical background to regionalization in Northern Europe was formed during the 15th – mid-20th centuries. The process of region-building itself began in the mid-20th century, with the establishment of the Nordic Council in 1952, and went through three periods (1952–1990, 1990–2013, and 2014 – present). At the first stage, regionalization in Northern Europe was based on the concept of old regionalism and was primarily aimed at preserving regional identity. Starting from the 1990s, the region has been shaped according to the concept of new regionalism, involving the Baltic countries, Russia and geographically remote Arctic states. In 1990–2013, the major goal of these processes was to spread Northern European values to the Baltic, Barents (Euro-Arctic) and Arctic regions; supranational (European Union) and subnational structures as well as a number of non-state actors were involved in Northern European regionalization. The third period, which began in 2014, is characterized by attempts to brand the Northern European region in the global space in order to enhance the region’s image in the world and gain the benefits and advantages of globalization.