Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Denmark’s Narrative on the EU: Between Pragmatism and Small State Activism

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingBook chapterResearchpeer-review

Abstract

This chapter examines Denmark’s European narrative and how the interplay between the possibility of influence and the risk of entrapment, and between Europeanist and Eurosceptic attitudes towards the EU, has affected its development. The chapter considers how the official narrative relates to wider views as expressed by public opinion, the results of elections to the Danish Parliament (Folketing) and the European Parliament and the outcome of the eight referendums held on the EU in Denmark. In particular, it focuses on the changes in the Danish narrative before and after the ‘no’ to the Treaty of Maastricht in 1992. Further, it reflects on how the Eurozone and refugee crises have affected Denmark’s EU narrative. Since referendums and EU crises have contributed towards politicising the EU, the chapter concludes that Denmark’s official narrative has been institutionalised in a manner best characterised as pragmatic stability with periods of activism.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationNational Government Narratives of the EU : 'Official Stories’ of Belonging
EditorsHussein Kassim, Adriaan Schout
Number of pages24
Place of PublicationCham
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan
Publication date2024
Edition1
Pages201-224
Chapter8
ISBN (Print)978-3-031-19985-1
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-031-19986-8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024
SeriesPalgrave Studies in European Union Politics
ISSN2662-5873

Citation Styles