"The beginning of Norwegian democracy was with the Eidsvoll men and the Constitution in 1814. Since then, more and more groups have found a voice and a place in Norway’s popular rule," says Knut Dørum.

He is an author of textbooks and a professor of history at the University of Agder (UiA).

He has recently published the book Demokrati og medborgerskap, fra 1814 til i dag (Democracy and citizenship, from 1814 to today). The book is aimed at teachers, students and other interested readers.

The national curriculum states that democracy and citizenship should permeate all subjects from kindergartens to upper secondary schools in Norway.

Young people should learn to see the relationship between freedom of speech and democracy, as outlined in the national curriculum (Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training).

Free discussion is the foundation of democracy

"Freedom of speech and deliberative democracy are prerequisites for our democracy. That is why it's important to teach young people critical thinking and to read books," says Dørum.

The professor expresses concern about a trend where we refuse to engage with people we disagree with.

"A culture where we 'cancel' each other because we disagree does not build democracy or foster a safe and interesting culture where we can share ideas and perspectives on society," says Dørum.

According to him, dialogue and compromise are exactly what created Norwegian democracy.

"Those who disagree about how to organise society talk to each other, and then they find a middle ground that everyone can accept. Compromise is the central theme in the development of Norwegian democracy," he says.

Democrats meet halfway

Compromise is also the central theme in Dørum’s book.

"Smart compromises often imply that agreements on change are drafted somewhat vaguely. This allows for some freedom when interpreting the agreement, which may force both parties to meet halfway and compromise," says Dørum.

He highlights the introduction of parliamentarianism in 1884 as an example. The agreements to reduce the power of the king and the government were vague and somewhat difficult to draft. This led to a new distribution of power between parliament and government.

"Vague agreements led to a compromise that contributed to the gradual introduction of parliamentarianism in 1884 and its full implementation in 1905," says Dørum.

The Eidsvoll men feared democracy

Today, democracy is a term of praise; in 1814, it was unknown and daunting.

"The Eidsvoll men celebrated the people as the source of power, but at the same time, they cautioned against popular rule. They associated democracy with anarchy and lawlessness. Democracy, and the way we understand it, has changed over the years," Dørum says.

The Eidsvoll men believed that the general population was not ready to take part in democracy. They did not want an organised opposition. However, Dørum emphasises that the Constitution, 1814, and the Eidsvoll men is the big and decisive step towards democracy in this country.

"We've seen a trend to downplay this in recent historical writing, but there's no reason for that," he says.

1968 protests against authorities expanded democracy

Democracy has also changed in recent times. Dørum points to 1968 to explain the democratic breakthroughs of our time. He talks not only about the year 1968 but also about the ideas and ideals that the '68 generation brought with them through the 1970s and up to today.

Both the political left and right helped weaken established authorities. This brought more women into politics and business. Homosexuals, the Sámi, Kven, the disabled and other minorities gained more rights. The diversity of expression was expanded. And the blasphemy clause was eventually abolished.

"While the left opposed capitalist forces and campaigned for equal rights for more people, the right focused on dismantling the authority of bureaucracy, experts and a powerful state," says Dørum.

The professor has no doubt that we have more democracy today than in the past. However, he reminds us that power remains unevenly distributed.

"Businesses and organisations pursue their interests and have more money, power and influence than any of us. Politicians also have more power than before, but each of us enjoys greater freedom and more rights than in the past," he says.

Five democratic breakthroughs

Here are five breakthroughs which, according to Knut Dørum, have shaped Norwegian democracy:

1. The Constitution of 1814 and the abolition of absolutism: The Norwegian elite abolishes Danish absolutism and introduces the Constitution. Power is divided among parliament, courts and king, which weakened the king’s power.

2. Workers' associations and political party formation (1848): The Thrane movement, led by Marcus Thrane, initiated worker uprisings. These uprisings led to the formation of workers' associations across the country. They adopt political programmes addressing issues such as tenant conditions and universal suffrage. These associations set the standard for how political parties were later established in that century.

3. Introduction of parliamentarianism in 1884 – and 1905: The introduction of parliamentarianism means that the government remains in power as long as it has the support of the majority in the Storting. The king still had veto rights in 1884. The final breakthrough and completion of parliamentarianism came in 1905 when the union with Sweden was dissolved.

4. The working class and farmers unite in 1935: After many years of bitter and fierce political conflict, the Labour Party and the Farmers’ Party join forces. The cooperation secured important economic interests for farmers, fishermen and workers. The world of work was democratised, and collective agreements granted workers new rights.

5. 1968 and the protest against authorities: The political left and right oppose established authorities from 1968 onwards, throughout the 1970s and up to today. Freedom of expression was strengthened, and the monopolies for TV, radio and telephony were dissolved. Political rights for an increasing number of groups were put on the agenda, including women, homosexuals, the Sámi, the disabled and other minorities.

Reference: Knut Dørum, Demokrati og medborgerskap. Fra 1814 til i dag (Cappelen Damm, 2024)