Ellemann-Jensen doctrine
Encyclopedia
The Ellemann-Jensen doctrine is a Danish
idea specifically aimed at promoting small countries' ability to gain influence in the world order.
The doctrine
is not a written document but rather inspired by the former Danish Foreign Minister Uffe Ellemann-Jensen
's term of office in which he promoted the notion that a small country can gain influence by supporting those greater countries that share the same values and ideas, which the small country itself embraces.
Uffe Ellemann-Jensen led the European recognition of the renewed independence of the three Baltic countries
in 1991, when Denmark
was the first country to re-establish diplomatic relations with the three countries.
The doctrine should seen in the context of Danish political history as the official break with the "Spirit of 1864". In 1864, Denmark lost the final war (Second war of Schleswig
) in a series of devastating defeats during which she lost three-fourths of her territory. The "Spirit of '64" had as its slogan, "what was lost outwards must be won inwards" and was essentially an isolationist policy preaching a high level of deference towards neighbouring nations and an emphasis on domestic development. Denmark did thus not join any of the European alliances at that time and sought essentially to remain uninvolved in conflicts as they erupted. Military investments, if conducted, were primarily defensive in nature. In effect, it was argued that a country as small as Denmark had no way of affecting the rest of the world.
Following World War I
, where Denmark had remained neutral, it was offered larger tracts of German
territory by France
and the allies, however, unlike the eastern neighbours, it opted for a settlement by plebiscite
including rights for the Germans in Denmark and vice versa. It proved partly successful as the Danish-German border remained one of the few borders which a resurgent Germany did not contest.
However, during the course of World War II
, when Denmark was invaded, the "Spirit of '64" rose again, this time in the form of a rather quick Danish surrender and a subsequent policy of collaboration. Basically, the view was held that since Denmark stood no chance of defeating the German invaders on their own, they might as well not fight. While this obviously saved Danish lives, it also allowed Germany to occupy the country with fewer troops then otherwise, thus freeing up troops for the assault on France. It is in stark contrast to the heavy opposition to German invasion given by for instance Norway.
The first cracks in the isolationist policy occurred after WWII, when Denmark - fearful of the then Soviet occupation of its Baltic islands - joined NATO. This was further expanded during the so-called "footnote policies" of the 1980s, where the Danish Social Democrats sought a political weakening of the NATO alliance, much like France, through a tactic of inserting footnotes containing reservations or objections into every NATO document that Denmark agreed upon.
However, the true re-entry of Denmark unto the world political scene, occurred under the foreign ministry of Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, where Denmark made a number of bold international moves, the best known being the recognition of the Baltic states as the first country in the world as these claim independence from the Soviet Union and the less known dispatchment of a small number of military advisors to the young Baltic nations. While led by Denmark, this move was quickly joined by the Nordic nations, who then joined Denmark in a successful lobbying campaign within the Western world for a quick recognition of the Baltic states.
The Ellemann-Jensen doctrine is thus, that a small country - like Denmark - can affect world politics through successfully building alliances to promote its foreign policy goals. An unstated implication of this is obviously that a small country should therefore also be willing to adopt and support the goals of its allies in a quid pro quo (something for something) for them supporting its own goals.
Under the following government led by the Danish Social Democrats the Ellemann-Jensen doctrine was carried on, and Denmark did not only dispatch peacekeepers to the Balkans in the 1990s, but also had no qualms about committing them to fight if need be. Denmark also became more vocal in the United Nations
, launching - for instance - resolutions against human rights abuses in China
.
The culmination of the Ellemann-Doctrine, however, came under the former prime minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen
, who had succeeded Uffe Ellemann-Jensen
as leader of the Liberal party. He deployed Danish troops in the 2003 Iraq war, arguing it was indeed a battle between good and evil. Anders Fogh Rasmussen
also became the first Danish prime minister to officially denounce the Danish collaboration policy during the second world war as wrong, arguing "If every country had done as Denmark (i.e. given up without a fight), the outcome of the war would have been clear."
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
idea specifically aimed at promoting small countries' ability to gain influence in the world order.
The doctrine
Doctrine
Doctrine is a codification of beliefs or a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the body of teachings in a branch of knowledge or belief system...
is not a written document but rather inspired by the former Danish Foreign Minister Uffe Ellemann-Jensen
Uffe Ellemann-Jensen
Uffe Ellemann-Jensen was Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark in the Conservative led Poul Schlüter Administration 1982–1993. He was leader of the Danish Liberal Party, Venstre 1984–1998 and President of the European Liberals 1995–2000...
's term of office in which he promoted the notion that a small country can gain influence by supporting those greater countries that share the same values and ideas, which the small country itself embraces.
Uffe Ellemann-Jensen led the European recognition of the renewed independence of the three Baltic countries
Baltic states
The term Baltic states refers to the Baltic territories which gained independence from the Russian Empire in the wake of World War I: primarily the contiguous trio of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania ; Finland also fell within the scope of the term after initially gaining independence in the 1920s.The...
in 1991, when Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
was the first country to re-establish diplomatic relations with the three countries.
The doctrine should seen in the context of Danish political history as the official break with the "Spirit of 1864". In 1864, Denmark lost the final war (Second war of Schleswig
Second War of Schleswig
The Second Schleswig War was the second military conflict as a result of the Schleswig-Holstein Question. It began on 1 February 1864, when Prussian forces crossed the border into Schleswig.Denmark fought Prussia and Austria...
) in a series of devastating defeats during which she lost three-fourths of her territory. The "Spirit of '64" had as its slogan, "what was lost outwards must be won inwards" and was essentially an isolationist policy preaching a high level of deference towards neighbouring nations and an emphasis on domestic development. Denmark did thus not join any of the European alliances at that time and sought essentially to remain uninvolved in conflicts as they erupted. Military investments, if conducted, were primarily defensive in nature. In effect, it was argued that a country as small as Denmark had no way of affecting the rest of the world.
Following World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, where Denmark had remained neutral, it was offered larger tracts of German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
territory by France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the allies, however, unlike the eastern neighbours, it opted for a settlement by plebiscite
Schleswig Plebiscites
The Schleswig Plebiscites were two plebiscites, organized according to section XII, articles 109 to 114 of the Treaty of Versailles of June 28, 1919, in order to determine the future border between Denmark and Germany through the former duchy of Schleswig...
including rights for the Germans in Denmark and vice versa. It proved partly successful as the Danish-German border remained one of the few borders which a resurgent Germany did not contest.
However, during the course of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when Denmark was invaded, the "Spirit of '64" rose again, this time in the form of a rather quick Danish surrender and a subsequent policy of collaboration. Basically, the view was held that since Denmark stood no chance of defeating the German invaders on their own, they might as well not fight. While this obviously saved Danish lives, it also allowed Germany to occupy the country with fewer troops then otherwise, thus freeing up troops for the assault on France. It is in stark contrast to the heavy opposition to German invasion given by for instance Norway.
The first cracks in the isolationist policy occurred after WWII, when Denmark - fearful of the then Soviet occupation of its Baltic islands - joined NATO. This was further expanded during the so-called "footnote policies" of the 1980s, where the Danish Social Democrats sought a political weakening of the NATO alliance, much like France, through a tactic of inserting footnotes containing reservations or objections into every NATO document that Denmark agreed upon.
However, the true re-entry of Denmark unto the world political scene, occurred under the foreign ministry of Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, where Denmark made a number of bold international moves, the best known being the recognition of the Baltic states as the first country in the world as these claim independence from the Soviet Union and the less known dispatchment of a small number of military advisors to the young Baltic nations. While led by Denmark, this move was quickly joined by the Nordic nations, who then joined Denmark in a successful lobbying campaign within the Western world for a quick recognition of the Baltic states.
The Ellemann-Jensen doctrine is thus, that a small country - like Denmark - can affect world politics through successfully building alliances to promote its foreign policy goals. An unstated implication of this is obviously that a small country should therefore also be willing to adopt and support the goals of its allies in a quid pro quo (something for something) for them supporting its own goals.
Under the following government led by the Danish Social Democrats the Ellemann-Jensen doctrine was carried on, and Denmark did not only dispatch peacekeepers to the Balkans in the 1990s, but also had no qualms about committing them to fight if need be. Denmark also became more vocal in the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, launching - for instance - resolutions against human rights abuses in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
The culmination of the Ellemann-Doctrine, however, came under the former prime minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen
Anders Fogh Rasmussen
Anders Fogh Rasmussen is a Danish politician, and the 12th and current Secretary General of NATO. Rasmussen served as Prime Minister of Denmark from 27 November 2001 to 5 April 2009....
, who had succeeded Uffe Ellemann-Jensen
Uffe Ellemann-Jensen
Uffe Ellemann-Jensen was Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark in the Conservative led Poul Schlüter Administration 1982–1993. He was leader of the Danish Liberal Party, Venstre 1984–1998 and President of the European Liberals 1995–2000...
as leader of the Liberal party. He deployed Danish troops in the 2003 Iraq war, arguing it was indeed a battle between good and evil. Anders Fogh Rasmussen
Anders Fogh Rasmussen
Anders Fogh Rasmussen is a Danish politician, and the 12th and current Secretary General of NATO. Rasmussen served as Prime Minister of Denmark from 27 November 2001 to 5 April 2009....
also became the first Danish prime minister to officially denounce the Danish collaboration policy during the second world war as wrong, arguing "If every country had done as Denmark (i.e. given up without a fight), the outcome of the war would have been clear."