A Swedish history professor has proposed a radical vision for Northern Europe: the unification of Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden, arguing that the nation-state is a relic of the past and that a unified “Norden” would take on a great-power role. The idea, laid out by Dick Harrison in an interview with Dagbladet, challenges a foundational principle of modern international order.
The Professor’s Blueprint
Dick Harrison, a Swedish history professor, contends that the era of the nation-state, which he traces to the era after the Napoleonic Wars, is over. “The nation-state is at its end. It’s a so-called ‘imagined community.’ All political systems collapse if they don’t adapt,” he told Dagbladet, adding that “there were no nationalists in the world before the 1790s.” In their place, he proposes a new ideology of “kompisme”—a “friendship-ideology” to supersede nationalism.
The practical benefits of such a union, according to Harrison, would be profound. He envisions a state with a shared economy, postal system, tax regime, welfare provisions, judicial framework, banking system, police force, and a unified military. “We in the north think alike, we have almost the same language, and we share the same values,” he said, suggesting that daily life and cross-border cooperation would become simpler.
A Defense Through History
Harrison grounds his argument in history, particularly the events of World War II. “If we had had a strong defense in Scandinavia in 1940, Hitler would have had a difficult time,” he posited. Sweden was not invaded by Nazi Germany in April 1940. “The German dictator Adolf Hitler ordered the occupation of Norway and Denmark in 1940. According to Dick Harrison, the Germans would have struggled if Scandinavia had had a strong defense.”
To address questions of governance, Harrison draws parallels with existing federal states. “How would this work? Should all countries have an equal vote? Look at the United States, or Germany. There are many examples of federal states that are functioning democracies,” he explained, suggesting a model where nations retain local identities like flags, monarchies, or republics while centralizing foreign policy and economic management.
Reassuring Cultural Nationalists
The proposal has not been met with universal acclaim. The Norwegian history professor Hans Jacob Orning has positioned himself skeptically to the idea. “I can understand that, and it is perhaps the foremost point against this ever succeeding,” Harrison acknowledged, adding a blunt geopolitical warning: “Small fish get eaten by big ones.”
Harrison dismisses these fears as backward-looking. “As a historian, I can understand that line of thinking, but it doesn’t point forward,” he said. He reassures cultural nationalists that their identities would be safe. “Keep the royal houses. Preserve the Storting and the ski team. We can let you win in skiing. In the United Kingdom, they have different national football teams,” he offered.
A Global Power Reimagined
The implications of a unified Nordic state, in Harrison’s view, would extend far beyond the region. “The Norden will get a great-power role within the EU, Nato, the economy and really over everything,” he told Dagbladet. A united Norden could also protect itself, he pointed out, for example against a powerful state in the east. He acknowledged, however, that there are many obstacles in the way: nationalism, and the fact that Norway is not a member of the EU, among others. “But if you want to reach the treetops, you must aim for the stars,” he said, adding: “I would be very pleased if we get more practical cooperation in the Norden. If a vision can set that in motion, then it is only positive.”
“If we unite, we will get a federal state where one retains flags, monarchy or republic, but foreign policy and economy become united,” Harrison summarized, presenting his “kompisme” not just as an alternative to nationalism, but as an evolution beyond it. “The 20th century is a terrifying proof of how dangerous nationalist politics is. We have nothing to gain from continuing with it,” he said.
The vision of a single Nordic realm remains, for now, a thought experiment—a “kongstanke,” as Harrison calls it. Yet, in a world where political certainties are fracturing, the idea serves as a lens through which to examine the future of cooperation, identity, and power. It is a provocative reminder that the map of Europe, and the world, may not be as fixed as it appears.
