Identity Through Vision

Sammanfattning

This thesis examines how the Nordic Council constructs and employs narrative within its implementation of Agenda 2030 as a means of strengthening its ontological security and collective sense of self. This approach implies that security is not only a product of material protection rather also a product of interpretive coherence. The Agenda 2030 is treated as a tool that frames complex policy questions into manageable categories and processes. While Agenda 2030 is outwardly framed as a roadmap for sustainable development, the Nordic Council’s interpretation of the agenda reveals additional motives tied to safeguarding regional identity and cohesion. By applying a conceptual framework derived from ontological security theory, this study identifies the narratives embedded in Nordic policy documents, their socio-psychological foundations, and their influence on how the Nordic region understands and reproduces its internal sense of “Nordicness.” Using textual analysis through an interpretative methodological approach, the thesis explores how specific narratives shape the Council’s actions, priorities, and self-presentation. This combination of methods highlights the essential role that narrative plays both in policy formation and in shaping public perceptions of the Nordic region’s values, responsibilities, and global positioning. A detailed examination of several narrative strands,such as the Nordic Council as a frontrunner in sustainability, a guardian of shared Nordic values, and a promoter of inclusive and resilient societies, allows for deeper insight into how these storylines work to reduce intra-Nordic uncertainty and reinforce a stable collective identity. At the same time, critical lenses are applied, given the doubt that narratives that stabilise may also oversimplify. Namely, by introducing goals as a win-win, the narratives may reduce the visibility of trade-offs and conflicts. Thus, stabilisation efforts are strongly dependent on credibility and how the audience interprets the success of implementing promises into their everyday lives. The findings indicate that these narratives operate simultaneously as external policy tools and internal stabilising mechanisms, helping mitigate ontological insecurity that traditional security approaches often overlook. Consequently, ontological security theory proves particularly valuable for understanding the Nordic Council’s broader security environment, shedding light on how the region cultivates continuity, belonging, and self-assurance through its Agenda 2030 narrative.