Norway’s Approach to Achieving Peace: Structure and Agency

Abstract

As one of the globally engaged middle rank states, Norway has attracted increasing attention due to its effective engagement in particular peace processes. Speeches by successive policy makers have consistently, throughout decades and changes in government,¹ declared that peace is an important Norwegian foreign policy priority. Both center-left and center-right governments in Norway have determined that they can bring focused and, thus, significant value-added support to addressing violent international conflicts in deeply divided states. In spite of Norway’s remoteness and small population—perhaps, because of these factors—Norwegians have become deeply embedded in multiple peace efforts, often with noteworthy results. Therefore, a focus on attributes of Norway’s approach can provide a useful model for analyzing responses to one of the world community’s intractable issues.