ABSTRACT
Close institutionalized cooperation, the establishment of stand-by forces and large contributions of troops and advisers enabled the Nordic countries to punch above their weight in UN peacekeeping during the cold war. This chapter assess whether the new Nordic Coordinated Arrangement for Military Peace Support (NORDCAPS) model will enable the Nordic countries to continue to punch above their weight in the field of peace operations. An institutional capacity for rapid joint decision-making and planning and a common strategic culture (that is, agreement on when, how and where their forces should be used) are also required to permit joint deployments at short notice. The Nordic military capacity can be assessed through examination of four main structures: NORDCAPS, The Nordic Battle Group, SHIRBRIG and the multinational battalions.
