This introduction sets the frame for the section's four articles, all themed on contemporary developments in Denmark in the wake of the country's involvement in the 'coalition' wars of recent decades. During this period, Danish governments have adopted a so-called 'activist' foreign policy, a key element of which is the increased utilization of its armed forces in operations across the globe. These processes are interesting, not least because they run counter to earlier conceptions in and of Denmark, a country that has been known, for long, as a bastion of politically liberal stances, widespread pacifism and a strong foreign policy tradition of noninvolvement. We outline this Danish road from 'adaptation' to 'activism', arguing for a need for a critical, qualitatively based research focus on the social and cultural repercussions of this peculiar 'military moment' in Denmark. The four articles that make up the themed section are written on the basis of ethnographic case studies that seek to contribute to such a wider discussion.
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