The Politics of Apology: The Norwegian Case

Abstract

Historically in child welfare, Norway claims to be a pioneer nation, introducing its first child welfare act in 1896. This act was closely followed by ground-breaking legislation protecting mothers and children in 1916, providing the foundation of the extensive expansion of the overall welfare system during the decades that followed. Equality, dignity and redistribution were core political elements in the construction of the Norwegian welfare state. When skeletons of the past in the shape of the disclosure of abuse and neglect of children emerged within this highly praised system, the official reaction was not denial, but surprise, naivety and a readiness to give compensation, apologize and let the past be the past. The emergence of the politics of apology is a millennial phenomenon linked to an increased focus on recognition of historical injustices (Barkan, 2000; Gibney, 2008; Hook, 2008; Marrus, 2006; Pettersen and Simonsen, 2010; Thompson, 2002; see also chapters 1 and 5). According to Kompridis (2007, p. 280), this recognition has ‘become part of the normative vocabulary of contemporary democracies'. Norway is not an exception to this trend, but stands out as a nation with a unique politics of apology, both in relation to timing, content, arrangement and the groups addressed, and also the amount of money involved.