Iceland's Shelter-Seeking Behavior: From Settlement to Republic

Description

Iceland's Shelter-Seeking Behavior challenges the traditional narrative that Iceland's submission to foreign rule and external relations had catastrophic consequences for the country. It argues that this narrative both exaggerates the costs of external relations and underestimates their benefits. Within the historical context of Iceland's external relations, the book outlines shelter theory, applying its assumption that small polities need economic, political, and societal shelter in order to prosper. Analysis of Iceland's external relations from the Norse settlement, a little before 900, to the creation of the Republic in 1944 suggests that throughout the period, this island nation enjoyed essential shelter, vital for development and prosperity, which its larger neighbors—Norway, Denmark, Great Britain, and the United States—provided. Other international actors, such as Hansa merchants; Dutch, French, Spanish, and Basque mariners; and the Catholic Church, also provided Iceland with important shelter. ABOUT THE AUTHORS BALDUR THORHALLSSON is Professor at the Faculty of Political Science, University of Iceland. He is also the Jean Monnet Chair in European Studies and Programme and Research Director at the Centre for Small State Studies at the University. TÓMAS JOENSEN is a researcher and instructor at the Centre for Small State Studies and the Faculty of Political Science, University of Iceland. SVERRIR STEINSSON is a PhD candidate in Political Science at The George Washington University (USA). THORSTEINN KRISTINSSON is a PhD candidate at the Department of Political Science, Lund University (Sweden). Foreword and Acknowledgements - ix List of Figures - xiii List of Figures - xv INTRODUCTION - p.1 The Small, Independent, Free, Loving Nation versus the Large, Dominant, Uncaring Foreigner BALDUR THORHALLSSON Chapter 1 - p.7 Shelter Theory and Smallness in International Relations BALDUR THORHALLSSON AND SVERRIR STEINSSON Chapter 2 - p.21 Iceland’s External Affairs in the Middle Ages: The Shelter of Norwegian Sea Power BALDUR THORHALLSSON Chapter 3 - p.53 Iceland’s External Affairs from 1400 to the Reformation: Anglo-German Economic and Societal Shelter in a Danish Political Vacuum BALDUR THORHALLSSON AND THORSTEINN KRISTINSSON Chapter 4 - p.79 Iceland’s External Affairs from 1550 to 1815: Danish Societal and Political Shelter Concurrent with a Highly Costly Economic Policy BALDUR THORHALLSSON AND TOMAS JOENSEN #Chapter 5 - p.111 Iceland’s External Affairs from the Napoleonic Era to the Creation of the Republic in 1944: Danish Societal and Economic Shelter in an Anglo-American-dominated North Atlantic. BALDUR THORHALLSSON AND TOMAS JOENSEN CONCLUSIONS - p.147 Iceland and Shelter Theory Across History BALDUR THORHALLSSON Bibliography - p.157 Index - p.175