Description
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Norway quickly emerged as one of the top providers of military and humanitarian aid, as the first country to adopt a multi-year aid package. Despite no change in the political devotion to support Ukraine, however, Norway gradually dropped down on country rankings. Simultaneously, Norway reaped massive economic benefits from the war as energy prices skyrocketed. Why did Norwegian allocations to Ukraine decline despite steadfast political support for Ukraine’s freedom-fight? This paper explores expressive foreign policy at the intersection between domestic and international politics. Drawing on survey data, media debates and official documents, the paper argues that whereas expressive performances abound, they can weaken government legitimacy if bureaucratic processes and demand for fiscal discipline reduces them to cheap talk. Furthermore, it shows how expressive representations in foreign policy lead the domestic audience to force accountability and align material practices with expressive foreign policy.
