In this virtual lecture, Hanna Ojanen, Jean Monnet Professor at the University of Tampere, Finland, describes the implications of NATO enlargement to Sweden and Finland for NATO itself, for the two countries, and for the European security environment. Following an overview of Finnish and Swedish security and defense policy, Ojanen delved into some of the big questions facing Europe, including what happens to non-alignment or neutrality now? She went through a list of the implications for NATO, making the case for the accession of the two countries as security contributors and as small states with limited options. Finally, she talked about the need now in light of the so many changes to "fix the discourse," that is, to find a way of speaking about the new realities in ways that elicit consensus while maintaining a sense of continuity in particular as regards the sovereignty of the two countries, which remain in control of their own defense.
Prof. Ojanen's lecture took place on Tuesday, November 22, as part of the Center for the Study of Europe's “A Stronger Europe in the World Series,” an initiative of the Jean Monnet Chair in European Security and Defense, Kaija Schilde. The aim of the series, supported by the European Union**, is to prompt critical reflection by a larger public on human and regional security informed by cross-national experiences and a variety of disciplinary lenses as well as to introduce or emphasize EU perspectives into ongoing debates around security integration and global challenges.
**Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Erasmus+ Programme. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
