Jervell, S.: A report from Europe's northern periphery. - S.11-25. Waever, O.: The Baltic Sea region - Does it exist? - S.26-38. Joenniemi, P.: Baltic-Nordic relations: Prospects for future. - S.39-61. Neumann, I. B.: From the Nordic region to what? - S.62-73. Jonson, L.: Russia in the Nordic region in the period of change. - S.77-106. Vozgrin, V.: Sankt-Petersburg as Russia's northern capital. - S.107-119. Cheredeev, S.: Economic development and reforms in the Russian Arctic under transition to market economy. - S.120-129. Vares, P. ; Zhurjari, O.: The foreign policy on the Baltic states. - S.133-141. Kukk, M.: Estonia in transition - Reform or restitution? - S.144-157. Puga, A.: Latvia: realities of the return to Europe. - S.158-172. Antanavicius, K.: The Lithuanian economy: its present condition and the necessary steps for its recovery. - S.173-179. Gricius, A.: How far is Lithuania from Scandinavian countries and contemporary Europe? - S.180-196. Vilkas, E.: Lithuania - interlink of West Europe and Russia. - S.197-206. Tunander, O.: The strategic significance of the Nordic-Baltic region. - S.211-229. Visuri, P.: The changing political and military status of the Baltic region. - S.230-238.

The first authoritative account concerning the lack of conflict in the Nordic region, this text evaluates why the area is more peaceful than the rest of Europe and whether there is a lesson to be learned from the area. Looking at cases where parts of the Nordic area have started to break away from the others and how this was achieved without violence, it also explores the settlement of demarcation disputes. By using this region as an example for the rest of Europe, this book tests the hypothesis of the Nordic Peace using a number of approaches including historical, political science, peace research, sociology and law. This highly insightful piece of research is relevant for courses in international relations and European studies.

Vicarious identification, or "living through another" is a familiar social-psychological concept. Shaped by insecurity and a lack of self-fulfilment, it refers to the processes by which actors gain a sense of self-identity, purpose, and self-esteem through appropriating the achievements and experiences of others. As this book argues, it is also an under-appreciated and increasingly relevant strategy of international relations. According to this theory, states identify and establish special relationships with other nations (often in an aspirational way) in order to strengthen their sense of self, security, and status on the global stage. This identification is also central to the politics of citizenship and can be manipulated by states to justify their global ambitions. For example, why might the United States look at Israel as a model for its own foreign policies? What shaped the politics of Brexit and why is the United Kingdom so attached to its transatlantic "special relationship" with the United States? And, why did Denmark so enthusiastically ally with the United States during the global War on Terror? Vicarious identity, as the authors argue, is at the core of these international dynamics. Vicarious Identity in International Relations examines the ways in which vicarious identity is relevant to global politics: across individuals; between citizens and states; and across states, regional communities, or civilizations. It looks at a range of cases (the United States, the United Kingdom, and Denmark), which illustrate that vicarious political identity is dynamic and emerges in different contexts, but particularly when nations face crisis, both internally and externally. In addition, the book outlines a qualitative methodology for analyzing vicarious identity at the collective level.

Bjllrn Tore Godal Norwegian Ambassador to Germany Chairman of the Editorial Advisory Board Several of the contributions to the present volume of The NEBI Yearbook have been inspired by the fact that roughly speaking, ten years have passed since the first steps were taken to initiate cross-border co-operation in the Barents and Baltic Sea areas. One of the most important co-operative organisations in the European Northeast, i. e. The Council of the Baltic Sea States, was launched in 1992. The Barents Euro Arctic Council was established in 1993. An avalanche of co-operative and cross-border initiatives has since hit this part of Europe with all kinds of actors participating - states, regional and municipal authorities, univer sities, national organisations, businesses and private interests. Even international organisations and actors from outside the immediate NEBI area have taken a special interest in this dynamic part of the world. Among the most important is the European Union, whose Finnish-inspired Northern Dimension initiative has become a permanent fixture. As many of the chapters in NEBI 2003 testifY, integration in the NEB I area - across old political and ideological borders and cultural and socio-economic divides that are among the most pronounced anywhere in the world - has on the whole been a great success.