Åland, Norden, and Europe in the early Post Cold War Era 1989-1995

Abstract

The relationship between the EU and the Nordic countries has sometimes been complicated. This includes the autonomous Åland Islands. During the Cold War, when Finland’s relationship with European integration remained strictly limited, the Nordic Council served as a singularly important policy platform for Åland. Following the end of the Cold War, there was a geopolitical realignment, with both Finland and Sweden joining the European Union. This caused substantial anxiety for Åland, which feared that the Nordic countries would be absorbed into an increasingly integrated Europe. This article analyses the speeches of Ålandic representatives in Nordic Council sessions between 1989 and 1994 from a constructivist perspective to show how Åland viewed itself in Europe and Norden during a period of realignment.