Denmark

Denmark and national liberation in Southern Africa : a flexible response

Upphovsperson:	Morgenstierne, Christopher Munthe
Utgivare:	Nordiska Afrikainstitutet | Uppsala : Nordiska Afrikainstitutet
År:	2003
Ämnesord:	Foreign relations, national liberation movements, apartheid, Denmark, Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Political science, Statsvetenskap

This book describes and documents the development of Danish support to national liberation in Southern Africa and the two-sided humanitarian and political character of this support. It is based on previously restricted Danish ministry records and on NGO archives and interviews.The Nordic countries were unique in the Western world in their support to individuals, organisations and refugees, struggling to end institutionalised colonialism and racism and alleviate their humanitarian consequences. Nordic support was humanitarian and civilian, and to a large extent was given to refugees and to education. Increasingly, it came to involve national liberation movements and financial support to their civilian activities, at a time when these movements were politically and militarily struggling against the regimes in their countries-including the government of Portugal, a NATO military partner of Norway and Denmark.Danish support developed differently from that of the other Nordic countries. Official support was never given directly to liberation movements. Rather, Danish NGOs were employed to advise on Danish allocations and to distribute these allocations and carry out activities, using their own capacity or through their international networks. In the field of sanctions, Denmark shifted from a policy of awaiting a UN Security Council decision to imposing unilateral trade sanctions as the first Western country to do so, and the book analyses the political developments behind this.The study seeks to determine the events, rationales, arguments and decisions that led to the various forms of Danish support. Key questions are how Danish support was established as a purely humanitarian facility that later developed into supporting also the liberation movements, and how boycott was first considered to be an issue for the individual but eventually became national, official policy. The study seeks to describe why support and sanctions developed in the way and at the pace they did. Major factors involved were Danish public awareness of developments in Southern Africa, domestic political debates and mobilisation through NGOs.This focus on processes of change has been necessary in a field of Danish foreign relations that during the course of the research was recognised as being a very wide as well as a very interesting one. As a new field of research, and with the majority of the sources never having been studied before, this study has an aim to provide a platform for other researchers, journalists and students. Hopefully it will inspire others to investigate the whole issue further-or to consider it in a different perspective.

The Africa policies of Nordic countries and the erosion of the Nordic aid model : a comparative study

Upphovsperson:	Odén, Bertil
Utgivare:	Nordiska Afrikainstitutet | Uppsala : Nordiska Afrikainstitutet
År:	2011
Ämnesord:	Foreign aid, Development aid, Foreign policy, Foreign relations, International cooperation, Aid policy, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Africa, Political science, Statsvetenskap

The aid policies of the Nordic countries – Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden – once had so many distinctive characteristics in common they were sometimes referred to as the “Nordic model”. Now, however, this model has all but disappeared. This paper explores how this came about and examines the current development cooperation policies of the Nordic countries in Africa. In this respect, Nordic countries are now moving along divergent trajectories and becoming part of new donor constellations. This paper is based on a content analysis of official documents and face-to-face interviews with policy makers and key opinion shapers in the four countries. In addition to discussing the aim and role of current Nordic Africa policies and strategies, the paper provides an historical overview of Nordic cooperation with Africa and compares the Africa policy documents of the four Nordic countries. Finally, some suggestions regarding the scope for future Nordic cooperation are presented.

The Nordic countries and Africa : old and new relations

Upphovsperson:	Wohlgemuth, Lennart
Utgivare:	Nordiska Afrikainstitutet | Uppsala : Nordiska Afrikainstitutet
År:	2002
Ämnesord:	Aid policy, Development aid, trade, Africa, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, SOCIAL SCIENCES, SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP

The Institute has asked one representative from each Nordic country to give an account of how their respective countries have dealt with Africa over the years (in some cases even over the centuries) but with an emphasis on the last 50 years. They were also asked to indicate what role Africa has played in the politics, trade, etc. of their countries. The diversity of the invited authors’ backgrounds and fields of specialisation is reflected in their contributions, but the authors have one thing in common: a long experience from, and deep engagement in, Africa’s development.