Editorial introduction - Nordic countries’ crisis management of the COVID-19 pandemic : the effect of size

Abstract

This special section in SST deals with size-related challenges and opportunities in the seven Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands) in relation to the crisis management of the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. No study has been carried out on whether the size of the Nordic countries affected their management of the COVID-19 crisis. Our aim is to address gaps in both the crisis management and small states literature. The crisis management literature has mainly made assumptions on small states based on cases of large states; while the small state literature has focused on the vulnerability of small states in handling crises. This special section provides new insights into how small state size, administrative design, and governance culture shaped crisis management in the Nordic region. We argue that administrative scale is important, but its effects are mediated by institutional design, leadership, and the ability to harness informality constructively. Small states are not inherently disadvantaged in crises. When paired with clarity, coordination, and trust-based governance, even the smallest Nordic countries can perform well – and at times, better – than their larger peers. Hence, the special section suggests that smallness is not a barrier to effective crisis management. These findings call for a more nuanced view of state size in both public administration and small state scholarship.