’This is one of the most original and impressive contributions to IR theory in general and comparative security studies in particular to have come out of Northern Europe - or Europe as a whole, for that matter - for a long time. Painstakingly argued, and fully cognisant of the state of the art in security studies and IR theory, it will both stimulate, challenge and perhaps even exasperate all serious scholars of comparative European security and foreign policy, as well as those more generally involved in current theoretical and methodological debates within the field.’ Walter Carlsnaes, Uppsala University, Sweden ’In this thought-provoking and well-written book, the author commits an ’Allison’; i.e. he deals with one and the same topic - security policy reorientations in peripheral Europe - from three different perspectives, in case realism, institutionalism and political anthropology.’ Dr. Hans Mouritzen, Danish Institute of International Studies, Denmark ’Kjell Engelbrekt examines the rapid security policy changes of four smaller European countries near the East-West border after the end of the Cold War. He shows the impact of the classic realist factors of power and interest, the impact of the rapidly forming new European institutions, and some effects of distinctive national cultures or values. The book will be of great interest to those concerned with (especially European) security policy. But it will also be of interest to those, beyond the international relations community in political science, interested in theories about internal and external impacts on national states and their policies. Beyond his own findings, Engelbrekt’s discussions of these theories are most informative.’ John W. Meyer, Professor of Sociology, Stanford University, California, USA '...a little gem that marries empirical investigation with useful intellectual insights...a well-crafted book that repays careful reading and has value at a number of l