ABSTRACT

This chapter offers a survey of party positions on European integration in the five Nordic countries (Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, and Norway) beyond the traditional membership/non-membership dichotomy, by focusing on support for participation in European Union (EU) policy areas. By connecting Euroscepticism to the literature on differentiated integration, it demonstrates the importance to nuance the degree of support and opposition to European integration beyond the existing membership/non-membership dichotomy. With parties being increasingly critical of the EU and the rise of Eurosceptic parties in the European Parliament following the recent crisis, it is therefore essential to distinguish varying levels of opposition per policy areas. The chapter concludes by highlighting the fact that Euroscepticism is a widespread phenomenon in the Nordic region, with parties shaping their attitudes towards integration depending on the domestic political context, and that they do not share a common Nordic position based on transnational cooperation or ideological affiliation.