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The article attempts to fill a lacuna in integration theory by developing a theory of national integration policy. It argues that integrating states face an integration dilemma, which they handle by various coping strategies. The article applies adaptation theory to explore these strategies and the general policy modes in which they are embedded. It argues that balancing, i.e. a 'give and take' approach, is the most likely policy mode, but that other defensive or offensive strategies may also be used. The argument is illustrated by an analysis of Denmark's integration policy. (Journal of Common Market Studies / FUB)

Since 1951 a Danish‐American defense agreement on Greenland has regulated US military activities there. The article gives a detailed empirical‐theoretical analysis of the negotiation of the Agreement under five perspectives: bargaining power, agenda setting, negotiating positions, strategies and outcomes. An important parameter was the fact that negotiations took place in a cooperative setting with a long shadow of the future. This made for a skewed, though regular negotiation process with a give‐and‐take of positions, counter‐positions and concessions. Negotiating strategies varied, with the US side concentrating on an "authority" strategy, while the Danes relied on a mixture of off‐setting "moral" and "tied hands" strategies. Although the US got the best outcome, it was not a dictate, because the ground was leveled by the negotiations taking place as part of the build‐up of a long‐term security relationship and the fact that the United States was the demandeur vis‐à‐vis Denmark.

The article analyses the development of Denmark's European policy during the last decade on the basis of two theoretical approaches, Goldmann's change theory and Putnam's two-level analysis. During the period analysed, Danish policies towards European Union changed dramatically, mainly due to adaptation to external change, but learning experiences and changing policy-making setups also played a role. At the same time the formulation of Denmark's European policy was an almost paradigmatic example of the decision-makers' problems with playing simultaneously external and internal integration games and of defining `win-sets', i.e. solutions which are compatible with both their external and domestic environments.

Analyzes Danish policy changes towards the EU as an attempt to reconcile the domestic and external environment.