Utrikespolitisk modellflygning: En teoriprövande studie om hur utrikespolitiska förändringar kan förklaras

Abstract

Based on the model The Causal Dynamics of Foreign Policy Change, put forward by Jakob Gustavsson (1998), the aim of this study is to find out whether the same factors that explain the Swedish reorientation concerning its membership of the European Community also have a bearing on the Finnish case. Furthermore, another goal of this study is to contribute to the general debate on the explanatory power of Gustavsson’s model. This is carried out by testing one of the causal links of the model. The method used for this purpose is a qualitative content analysis, performed on material with relevance to the aim of the study. The result of the study indicates that the causal link is indeed present in the case examined. The study therefore acknowledges the reliability of Gustavsson’s model. Thus it constitutes a contribution to the scientific discussion on this topic.