Neighboring Countries Who Get Along

Historically, neighboring states throughout the world more often than not are at each other's throats simply due to the fact that they're always fighting each other over vital resources, such as land, water, oil, etc.

Name countries that have historically always gotten along, or even generally so.

Originally posted by TranHungDao Name countries that have historically always gotten along, or even generally so.

Always is a long time. I can't think of any example stretching for more than a century or two (excepting miniature states, that is).

Question Regi

Originally posted by Al Jassas Question Regi   Is Finland included? What about Denmark, I always considered it the bad boy of the North (too many wars to be Scandinavian).

Whether or not you include Finland depends on your criteria. Geographically it makes sense to include Finland, culturally it is also similar to the rest of Scandinavia, but the language is of another world entirely (Finno-Ugric) and the region was under Russian overlordship for over a century.

Denmark the bad boy? Maybe in the middle ages, but from 1500s onwards Sweden emerged as the most aggressive imperialist in the north, invading Denmark, Norway, Germany, Poland, Russia and the Baltic:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_Empire

The Swedes weren't entirely peaceful in the middle ages either. The Swedes launched three presumed crusades to Finland, which conquered the area and made sure it remained Swedish for some 600 years. There were also quite a few campaigns directed at Novgorod, but these failed to produce lasting results.

Denmark too was expansionist in the middle ages, particularly in the Baltic and northern Germany, but nothing comparable to what the Swedes achieved. You probably need to go as far back as the 11th century and Canute the Great's empire (Denmark, Norway, England and parts of Sweden) to find Denmark as the undisputed Scandinavian "bad boy".

Yeahhh - we are the bad boys....  

The elite was either Danish or Danified Norwegians and the official language was Danish, but to go from there to saying the entire population was Danish is a stretch. Until the rise of nationalism the average Norwegian barely knew what he was beyond belonging to a certain family and local community.

In any case Danish-ruled is the correct term here, for a period of 400 years no less. Personally I think it's a shame we aren't still ruled from Copenhagen as I'm quite pleased with how Denmark is governed and less pleased with the politicians of my own country.

..and we all thought you guys were all progressive, pragmatic socialists making affordable furniture, very safe cars and hunting the odd elk to pass 18 hr days away.

 Arent Norwegians and danish cut from the same cloth anyway?

Originally posted by Constantine XI Australia and New Zealand make a stellar example. Caring and sharing with one another since European colonisation, if there were ever an example of fraternity in statehood it would be between these two.

Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam... we are always cool...

Originally posted by The Canadian Guy Canada and the USA get alone just fine, even though Canada's only true neighbor is the USA. Tourist from both Canada and the USA cross borders all the time. One BIG thing we have in common, both nations were once British.  Well Canada is still more British than the States are, but hey, my nations government is still loyal to the crown.

I agree and the only problem I had crossing the border into BC or Alberta, Canda was coming back- US Customs. They never gave me a real hard time but they drill you more with questions than the Canadians. The only concern the Canadians had were guns but I kept my AK-47 well concealed- NOT!!

I see more Canadians down here in Arizona than in Spokane, Washington only two hours south of the border. Most pass on through with their RV's but a few buy homes and stay the winter. Can an American buy property in Canada? I am sure you can but just wondering? I have considered this for a retreat in the summer.

There is a large RV camp not far from me and they were flying a US, Arizona and Canadian flags side by side but the US flag was a bit higher. Funny, I always saw US/Canadian flags flying side by side all the way from Spokane to the border. But, once I got to the other side I did not see this- Canadians why??? Do you dislike our flag? I have been all over southern Alberta and BC and never saw this, only Canadian flags flying alone. The Canadians I meet here are friendly but then again they are guests in a foreign country and it is good to see them. I have a Canadian accent and I say AAA instead of Huh anyway.