Why are there so many Nordic mediators?
Uppsala University
People from the Nordic countries are often selected as international mediators in wars and armed conflicts. In a new book, peace researchers at Uppsala University describe what makes mediators specifically from the Nordic countries so popular. Where do they come from, why do they take on these missions and what sort of mandate do they have?
The Nordic countries have a long history of mediating in peace processes. Dag Hammarskjöld, Anna Lindh and Staffan de Mistura are three examples. Hans Grundberg is acting as mediator in the current negotiations on Yemen. History offers many examples of mediation initiatives and processes aimed at alleviating and ending ongoing armed conflicts. In 2024, there were 61 registered armed conflicts in the world, the highest number since 1946.
In their new book "The Peacemaking Mandate: Nordic Experiences in International Mediation", Isak Svensson and Peter Wallensteen, both professors of peace and conflict research, explain. The main emphasis is on Sweden, Norway and Finland. Why are these countries and individuals from them so popular in conflict mediation? What are their strengths and weaknesses? How can smaller countries, like the Nordic countries, generate support for mediation actions?
Peace mediator's mandate
“We wanted to investigate how different mandates influence the process of mediation,” says Svensson, Professor of Peace and Conflict Research. “While mandates have been studied intensively in relation to other types of interventions, no such interest has been evident within mediation research until now.”
Svensson and Wallensteen are both leading international experts on mediation and conflict resolution. In the book, they focus on the experiences and mandates of mediators. By studying Nordic experiences, they seek valuable lessons for contemporary armed conflicts, wars and peace processes.
Jan Eliasson, Martti Ahtisaari and Erik Solheim
The two researchers have studied mediators in recent times, such as Jan Eliasson, Carl Bildt, Hans Grundberg, Staffan de Mistura, Erik Solheim, Anna Lindh and Kristina Levheim, as well as historically successful mediators such as Folke Bernadotte, Dag Hammarskjöld and Martti Ahtisaari.
One of the requirements for successful negotiations is a clear yet broad mandate. The researchers have scrutinised the role of the mandate in international mediation processes and explored more than 75 years of Nordic mediation experiences, focusing on the initiation, pursuit and results of these efforts.
“The way in which the mediators receive their mandate affects the entire process, from the commencement through the negotiations to an agreement and conclusion,” says Svensson, Professor of Peace and Conflict Research.
"Mediation Staircase", new analysis model
They introduce the new concept of the ‘Mediation Staircase’ – a tool for assessing successful results in mediation. The Mediation Staircase builds on the insight that what can be regarded as success depends on the phase of the conflict and the tasks specified in the mandate.
“We can see that Nordic mediation has contributed to 13 lasting agreements, which is a high proportion of all conflicts in which Nordic mediators have participated,” says Wallensten, Professor Emeritus of Peace and Conflict Research. “This means there are many constructive lessons to be learned from their experiences and we identify some of these!”
The book: “The Peacemaking Mandate: Nordic Experiences in International Mediatio” by Isak Svensson and Peter Wallensteen, Cambridge University Press (2025), ISBN 9781009413886, DOI: 10.1017/9781009413923
The study received funding from the Folke Bernadotte Academy
For further information:
Isak Svensson, holder of the Dag Hammarskjöld Chair of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University, email: isak.svensson@pcr.uu.se, tel. +46 18 471 57 40, +46 730 39 82 77.
Peter Wallensteen, Emeritus Dag Hammarskjöld Professor of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University and Professor Emeritus of Peace Studies at the Kroc Institute, University of Notre Dame, tel. +46 70 675 26 79, email: peter.wallensteen@pcr.uu.se
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