Book review : small states and shelter theory : Iceland’s external affairs

Abstract

Thorhallsson is an Icelander, and he never misses the opportunity to illustrate his argument is direct application to the history of Iceland, as it has unfolded since the Middle Ages and right up to the current historical moment. This is skilfully done in this book by means of six chapters, in each of which Baldur Thorhallsson is a co-author. The policy dilemmas are stark, and these are at the core of the book’s arguments. Iceland is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the Schengen Treaty and a candidate country for EU accession, with however a political spectrum and a voting public that are largely not well disposed to joining the EU. Iceland is well integrated into the structures of Nordic cooperation, but none of the Nordic countries could offer Iceland comprehensive shelter.