Norway Report

Norway

History

Norway began to gain its fame in the early 19th century. At this time the population of Norway were made up of no more than raiders and pirates, which would become known as Vikings. In is believed that it was Harald Fairhair who gathered the separate Vikings nations together and created a feudal state.

The people of Norway then began a time of great unification and expansion. Throughout their journeys they colonized areas such as Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and parts of the British Islands. They even attempted to settle at L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland, Canada. This disproves the popular belief that it was Columbus who discovered North American. It was actually the Norwegian explorers who discovered it first.

In 1387, Norway entered a stage of disarray. This was a result of the black plague which had killed over half of the Norwegian population including their only heir to the throne. This lack of leadership sent chaos throughout Norway and as a result Norway was forced to join a union with the nation of Denmark.

Another turning point in Norwegian politics came along when Norway was forced into fighting in the Napoleon Wars with Denmark. After the war Norway was able to free itself from the grasps of Denmark and establish its own constitution. But, as a result it was forced into a part union with Sweden. Change came again in June 7, 1905 when Norway removed itself from the Union with Sweden. Still admiring the idea of monarchial ruler, the Norwegian government offered the throne to Danish Prince Carl. Norway has maintained this constitutional monarchy to this day.

When World War I occurred, Norway stayed fairly uninvolved by staying neutral to all parties. Unfortunately, this strategy failed them during World War II and as a result they were invaded by the German Nazis. Norway would be maintained by German rule for the next five years until they were forced to surrender on May 8, 1945.

After the invasion during World War II, Norway no longer valued its strict neutrality policy, yet many of their neutrality ideals are still maintained. Norway has rejected an offer to join the European Union on two separate occasions. Norway has developed into a very prosperous nation and its people have a high standard of living.

Social Conditions

Norwegians have one of the highest standards of living in the world. Just as much of the world, with each passing generation Norway is becoming more Americanized. American culture is becoming more and more integrated into Norwegian life. Many of Norway's customs and recreations still do uniquely reflect their environment and high standard of living.

In Norway clothing style generally follows conservative, European fashions and is influenced by the necessity to keep warm. Dressing well is important, and an unkempt appearance in public is considered inappropriate. Traditional costumes (bunad), which vary according to region, are worn on special occasion, such as weddings, local holidays, and the national holiday They are often hand sewn and have elaborate embroidery. For women, these costumes usually consist of a white blouse (often embroidered), a jumper-type skirt, an apron, and a headdress. Men war knee pants, shirts, and vests.

Another distinguishing feature of Norwegian culture is their religious status. More than 85 percent of the population belongs to the state church, the Church of Norway, which is Evangelical Lutheran. Still, freedom of religion is guaranteed, and thee are many other Christian churches active in the country. Among them are the Pentecostals, Roman Catholics, and various Protestant groups. Although, most people only attend church services on special occasions or holidays.

In terms of the opportunities for enjoying leisure, few countries compare with Norway. With great forests and wide mountain plateaus for winter pleasure and extensive coastal areas and rivers for summer recreation, Norway provides a natural environment perfect for outdoor sports. Three out of four Norwegian children take part in sporting activities and vvirtually every Norwegian owns at least one pair of skis.

Political Conditions

The power structure of Norway is probably one of the few areas that are quite different from that of most other free countries. Norway is a constitutional monarchy. The king only real authority is as the head of the military and as a symbol of continuity and stability. Executive power is vested in the prime minister, who presides over the dominant party in the country's parliament (Storting). The 165 members of parliament are elected every four years. The Storting has an Upper Chamber (Lagting) and a Lower Chamber (Odelsting). The Labor, Center, and Conservative parties are the largest in parliament, but no party has a majority. Also, just as in the United States, Norwegians gain voting rights at the age of 18.

The Norwegian government would be considered very liberal in the eyes of most Americans. For instance, the Norwegian has instituted such policies as same sex marriages and other same sex rights. Another example is the Norwegian government's support of abortion