Iceland and European Integration: On the Edge (Europe and the Nation State)

Why has Iceland not sought membership of the European Union?This unique volume uses the case study of Iceland - the only Nordic state to have never applied for EU membership - to explore the complex attitudes of small states to European intergration and provide a new theoretical approach for understanding such relationships.The contributors explain why the Icelandic political elite has been relunctant to participate in European integration. In this context, they analyse the influence that Iceland's special relationship with the US and the fisheries sector have had on their dealings with the EU. Also considered are 'new' variables, such as national administrative characteristics and particular features of the domestic arena of the political elite, as well as the elite's perception of international relations and its political discourse concerning independence and sovereignty.Iceland and European Integration will appeal to all those interested in European integration and the international relations of small states Approaching The Question : Domestic Background And Conceptual Framework / Baldur Thorhallsson -- The First Steps : Iceland's Policy On European Integration From The Foundation Of The Republic To 1972 / Baldur Thorhallsson And Hjalti Thor Vignisson -- A Controversial Step : Membership Of The Eea / Baldur Thorhallsson And Hjalti Thor Vignisson -- Deeply Involved In The European Project : Membership Of Schengen / Stefán Eiríksson -- Partial Engagement : A Practical Solution / Baldur Thorhallsson -- Life Is First And Foremost Saltfish / Baldur Thorhallsson And Hjalti Thor Vignisson -- The Special Relationship Between Iceland And The United States Of America / Baldur Thorhallsson And Hjalti Thor Vignisson -- Discussing Europe : Icelandic Nationalism And European Integration / Guđmundur Hálfdanarson -- The Euro-sceptical Political Elite / Gunnar Helgi Kristinsson And Baldur Thorhallsson -- Shackled By Smallness : A Weak Administration As A Determinant Of Policy Choice / Baldur Thorhallsson -- Towards A New Theoretical Approach / Baldur Thorhallsson. Edited By Baldur Thorhallsson. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 List of figures......Page 10 List of tables......Page 11 Notes on contributors......Page 12 Foreword......Page 13 Preface......Page 15 List of abbreviations......Page 17 Approaching the question: domestic background and conceptual framework......Page 18 The first steps: Iceland's policy on European integration from the foundation of the republic to 1972......Page 38 A controversial step: membership of the EEA......Page 55 Deeply involved in the European project: membership of Schengen......Page 67 Partial engagement: a practical solution......Page 78 Life is first and foremost saltfish......Page 84 The special relationship between Iceland and the United States of America......Page 120 Discussing Europe: Icelandic nationalism and European integration......Page 145 The Euro-sceptical political elite......Page 162 Shackled by smallness: a weak administration as a determinant of policy choice......Page 178 Towards a new theoretical approach......Page 202 Index......Page 226 This book explores the relationship between small states and Europe using the case study of Iceland, the only Nordic state not to have applied for EU membership. It explains Iceland's reluctance to participate in European integration "Iceland and European Integration will appeal to all those interested in European integration and the international relations of small states."--BOOK JACKET