Deliberative Diplomacy The Nordic Approach to Global Governance and Societal Representation at the United Nations

The ascendency of executive power in the presence of weak parliamentary and societal control has given rise to a need for deliberative forms of diplomacy in international relations. As Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden regularly include members of parliament, party representatives, and representatives of civil society in their delegations to the General Assembly of the United Nations, does this imply that a Nordic model exists? This book reviews the practice of these countries and finds that the role of societal representatives has diminished from participating members of delegations to mere observers. The Nordic examples illuminate the difficulties of achieving international governance through the practice of deliberative democracy.Table of ContentsList of figures, images, and tablesList of abbreviationsPreface1. IntroductionThe problemWhy do the General Assembly and Norden matter?Theory and methodologyPrior research2. Challenges and traditionsDelegation and representation at the United NationsDemocracy and dilemmas at the UN General AssemblyNordic diplomacy at the League of NationsUnisex state actors and the representation of women3. Parliament and UN delegationsThe Scandinavian model: Denmark An anachronism and parliamentarian stronghold: NorwayRoutine, squeeze-out, routine: SwedenBetween Lilliputian and full-scale representation: IcelandMetamorphosis or parliament lost: The Finnish Sonderweg4. The participation of civil societyScandinavian model revisited: DenmarkThe return of the body-snatched: NorwayCorporatism and double universalism: SwedenShort stories: Finland and Iceland5. Conclusions: On the way to deliberative diplomacyArchivesBibliographyAuthor IndexAbout the Author(s)/Editor(s)Norbert G tz, Dr. phil. (2001) in Political Science, Humboldt University Berlin, Docent (2007) in Political History, University of Helsinki, habil. (2009) in Modern History and International Relations, University of Greifswald, is Professor at the Institute of Contemporary History, S dert rn University, Sweden. His publications include the edited volume Regional Cooperation and International Organizations: The Nordic Model in Transnational Alignment (Routledge 2009).