Brödrafolk och vapenbröder? En politisk idéanalys av debatten om ett gemensamt försvar med Norge under 1880-talet

The purpose of this study is to examine the common defence policy of the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway during the late 1880s. And the role that the common defence policy played in Swedish parliamentary debate. The study will take the form of an analysis of political ideas. The ideas will be systemised according to the previously stated methodology of analysing political ideas. These ideas will then be related to and analysed using R. L. Rothstein’s theoretical framework presented in his work Alliances and Small Powers. The results which can be drawn from this study can be summarised as follows. The question of the common defence policy does not constitute an important political issue in its own right. However, it is frequently used as an argument when discussing other topics relating to the relations between the United Kingdoms. It can also be said that the common defence policy faces severe difficulties. And the view of how to develop the cooperation differs substantially between Swedes and Norwegians. These differences in view can partly be explained by the history of the union between the two countries. But also as a result of the complex nature of alliances involving small states, according to Rothstein’s theoretical framework.