Co-hosted by the Europa Institute, Edinburgh University

Norway is a member of NATO, Finland is not. Does that single fact produce radically different thinking about peace and security in the two nations? Or does more unite the Nordic neighbours who are both members of the Arctic Council and other alliances, both reject nuclear weapons in their waters, share outlooks on neutrality and the importance of non-military peaceful activity?

How did the experience of World War shape the outlook of these two countries in the sphere of international relations and what is the right size for their defence forces?

Defence policy in an independent Scotland was a controversial and divisive issue during 2012. Can the defence strategies of Nordic nations usefully inform both Scottish and UK debate?

And how does the international relations community regard the possibility of an independent Scotland in the context of security?

Anne Palm runs Finland’s Civil society conflict prevention network (KATU) and Iver Neuman is Professor of International Relations at London School of Economics and was senior adviser to the Norwegian Foreign Ministry. Chaired by Lesley Riddoch, writer and broadcaster.