Spiraling toward a New Cold War in the North? The Effect of Mutual and Multifaceted Securitization

Julie Wilhelmsen

doi:10.1093/jogss/ogaa044

Abstract

Abstract Building on a discourse-theoretical reading of securitization theory, this article theorizes and examines how two political entities can become locked in a negative spiral of identification that may lead to a violent confrontation. Through mutual and multifaceted securitization, each party increasingly construes the other as a threat to itself. When this representation spreads beyond the military domain to other dimensions (trade, culture, diplomacy), the other party is projected as “different” and “dangerous” at every encounter: positive mutual recognition is gradually blocked out. Military means then become the logical, legitimate way of relating: contact and collaboration in other issue-areas are precluded. Drawing on official statements 2014–2018, this article investigates how Norwegian–Russian relations shifted from being a collaborative partnership to one of enmity in the High North. The emerging and mutual pattern of representing the other as a threat across issue-areas since 2014 has become an “autonomous” driver of conflict—regardless of whether either party might originally have had offensive designs on the other.

Highlights

Underlying Russia’s rejection of “the West” and the deteriorating relations between these two political entities in recent years, there lie multiple drivers
Building on a discourse-theoretical reading of securitization theory, this article theorizes and examines how two political entities can become locked in a negative spiral of identification that may lead to a violent confrontation
This article can be placed in the latter school; it shows how what some call the “new Cold War” has developed out of interaction between Russia and the West, bringing these political entities into a relation where the threat of war appears imminent

Summary

Introduction

Underlying Russia’s rejection of “the West” and the deteriorating relations between these two political entities in recent years, there lie multiple drivers. This article can be placed in the latter school; it shows how what some call the “new Cold War” has developed out of interaction between Russia and the West, bringing these political entities into a relation where the threat of war appears imminent It does so by investigating the dyad of Russia–West relations, which was benign and where military hostilities seemed highly unlikely for twenty-five years following the end of the Cold War. Focusing on the changing relations between Norway and Russia, I show how rising tension spread from the 2014 crises in Ukraine to the North.. Focusing on the changing relations between Norway and Russia, I show how rising tension spread from the 2014 crises in Ukraine to the North.1 Both parties declared that they neither wanted nor believed that the new strategic tension between Russia and the West would spread to or define relations in this region.

Objectives

Findings

Conclusion