The local Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat is our partner in the Baltic Sea Region Forum. As part of this cooperation, Turun Sanomat publishes articles written by experts participating in the Forum. The series continues with a piece by Associate Professor Kira Vrist Rønn of the University of Southern Denmark, focusing special features of intelligence in the Nordics.
Intelligence in the Nordics
For decades, we in the Nordic countries have primarily relied on American and British literature when studying and teaching intelligence matters. This is now changing, as increasing academic attention is being directed toward the specific characteristics of intelligence in our high‑trust, small Nordic states. With shifting alliances and growing global instability, this agenda is becoming ever more important. We will need to rely on and collaborate more closely with our smaller regional partners rather than depending solely on our traditional larger allies – this also holds true in the context of intelligence.
What is “intelligence studies”?
“Intelligence” often makes people think of spies and spectacular scenes from Bond‑like fiction films. Yet the secret world of intelligence increasingly appears in media headlines, shaped by a shifting and unpredictable world order. Stories about the exposure of foreign spies, drone activities, sabotage of critical infrastructure, and official statements about rising national security threat levels all illustrate how intelligence has become more visible in the public.
The role of intelligence is first and foremost to inform decisionmakers about issues concerning national security, enabling them to act on these threats. But why are these matters at all relevant for academic study and investigation?
For a long time, intelligence was neglected or overlooked in university hallways, but intelligence matters have increasingly gained attention from researchers in disciplines such as political science, international security, history, philosophy, psychology, and organizational studies. “Intelligence studies” address the roles, mandates, and expectations placed on these organisations in society. Despite the secrecy surrounding intelligence and the fact that it may never be fully open to public scrutiny, academic debate and systematic analysis can indeed help improve both the quality of intelligence and the legitimacy of intelligence practices via informed public debates on these matters. Closed systems risk fostering institutionalized solutions that satisfy internal logics without questioning established assumptions or exploring innovative approaches – this is an important role of the scholarly focus on intelligence.
What is so special about Nordic intelligence?
The Nordic context has, however, been underrepresented in international literature on intelligence, and not much is written on the implications for cultural-specific intelligence practices, since Anglo-American contributions have been predominant. The Nordic context is, however, distinct and needs specific attention. Our context is similar in at least three important ways that affect how intelligence is practiced: (a) The high level of trust between citizens and the state, which leads to increased cooperation and social capital, as manifested in strong social networks and community engagement; (b) Nordic history and institutional settings, in particular, the universalist welfare state, a strong bureaucracy, organizational structures and administrative culture characterized by close connection between national, regional and local levels of government; and (c) Nordic security practices, including mainly an emphasis on societal security and the turn toward total defence and civil society engagement.
Visions for the future of Nordic Intelligence
Intelligence practices are not a one‑size‑fits‑all concept, and culture‑, history‑, and context‑sensitive studies are crucial for understanding and developing intelligence as a profession. This is even more important in the current security environment, where we cannot rely solely on previous allies but must strengthen cooperation with regional partners to build societal resilience. Focusing on how intelligence practices are and should be carried out in our region is essential, particularly for understanding how we, as small states with similar prerequisites in the international security landscape, can strengthen one another.
Over the past five years, intelligence scholars across Scandinavia have joined forces in an effort to strengthen collaboration through joint conferences and publications e.g., under the umbrella IntelHub and “Intelligence Practices in High-Trust States”. As an addition, it now seems timely to establish a Nordic Association for Intelligence Studies dedicated to the continuous investigation and discussion of shared issues, and to serving as a critical and constructive partner to the practical intelligence community in the Nordic region. In this way, we can strengthen our regional ties and reinforce one another in the pursuit of societal security in a reflected and coordinated manner.
Kira Vrist Rønn
Associate Professor
University of Southern Denmark
