Tag: politics

Abortion, girl power, and young voters: This is how Kamala Harris plans to win the election

There is broad agreement that the Democrats' chances of winning are greater with Kamala Harris than Joe Biden. But how will the vice president outdo Donald Trump at the ballot box in November?

The Covid-19 pandemic has unveiled the pervasive dangers of autocratic responses to crises

OPINION: Misinformation, divisive rhetoric, and manipulating tactics in order to consolidate power and overshadow governments’ shortcomings were widespread during the pandemic.

Rising concerns about marine health call for better knowledge of marine microbial communities

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: Unlocking the mysteries of marine microbial communities can help us make better decisions on marine resource management.

Why do so many voters around the world vote for authoritarian men?

These voters voluntarily give their vote to politicians who are not particularly interested in democracy.

Did people drive less when they were offered free public transport?

Researchers behind a new study are uncertain.

Is Norway a climate laggard compared to Sweden and Denmark?

Norway has only managed to cut about five per cent of its greenhouse gas emissions since 1990. Its neighbouring countries have cut more. Why is that?

Norway strongly criticised in Nature editorial for approving seabed mining

The prestigious international journal claims that Norway is undermining the work of the Ocean Panel.

Norway's Minister of Research and Higher Education resigns after plagiarism scandal

Sandra Borch (Centre Party) resigns as Minister of Research and Higher Education following revelations that her master's thesis contains text from other people's theses.

Fewer women on the local election lists

The proportion of women on the candidate lists for the upcoming municipal elections in Norway has decreased since the last election. Most of the top candidates on the lists are also men.

The oil lobby has made Norwegians take climate change less seriously

Radical changes are needed before Norwegians take climate change seriously, says one researcher. First, the ties between the oil lobby and the politicians must be loosened.

We may never reach 9 billion people

In November last year, we reached 8 billion. However, population growth may peak at 8.5 billion, two Norwegian researchers conclude in a new study.

Top politicians are not allowed to have TikTok on their phones. But why?

Other apps also collect a lot of information. TikTok stands out in that it is owned by a company in China, and China is not a Western ally in terms of security, researchers say.

Researchers fear the US will not help Europe as they have in the past if a new war hits the continent

The US has so far accounted for 90 per cent of arms aid to Ukraine. Going forward, Europeans must prepare to manage without so much help from the USA, researchers say.

Norwegian parliamentary politicians laughed when they quoted from the Bible

The Bible has been used as a political guiding principle in three Norwegian parliamentary debates, twice for real and once for fun.

Is Russia a greater or lesser threat to Norway than before?

The Ukraine war has weakened Russia's military presence in the north, but increased the importance of the country's nuclear weapons.

Norway could make Europe less dependent on critical minerals from China

Norway has large deposits of some rare earth metals that are important for the green shift. The Fen Complex fields in Telemark probably constitute a world-class deposit.

What happens if we can’t buy critical metals from the Chinese?

The green shift makes us even more dependent on metals China has a near-monopoly on.

Biden calls Trumpism semi-fascism – he’s right, says Norwegian researcher

"The USA is by no means protected against fascism," says Norwegian researcher. He warns against dangerous polarization and a potential democratic collapse.

Women with young children lose interest in politics

Four years later, women are still less interested than before they had children. Does the same happen to the partner?

No decriminalisation of drugs in Norway yet: Being caught with a joint can still have major consequences

There was a historic drop in reported drug offenses last year, as well as a sharp reduction in penalties. “Some people probably think that drugs have been decriminalised in Norway. This is not the case,” says researcher Katrine Holter.

How will Russia respond to a NATO application from Sweden and Finland?

It looks like both Sweden and Finland will decide to apply for NATO membership. This may happen as early as May. How will Putin and his advisors react?

What is a hypersonic weapon?

They move very, very fast, but that's not the most important thing about these weapons.

People become more conservative by owning stocks

And they become more left-wing if they have a daughter.

Russia has become a classic dictatorship

Vladimir Putin has ended up in the same situation as many dictators before him. He is surrounded by fewer and fewer advisers, those that are left tell Putin what they think he wants to hear, believes Norwegian researcher.

Harassment and threats against Norwegian politicians have increased significantly in recent years

"There is a risk that only the toughest individuals will be able to survive as politicians", says researcher.

Putin and the West have different morals. Does that lie at the root of the conflict?

Putin is concerned with honour. The West is concerned with dignity.

Liberal democracy is not dead

Liberal democracy is under pressure, and illiberalism remains a threat across the globe. Cas Mudde argues that key events in 2021 should be a wake-up call to those who think illiberalism is the inevitable future, and emphasizes the crucial need for consistent, genuine, and inspiring liberal democratic politics.

New study on the difficulties facing children of diplomats:"The hardest thing about being a diplomat's kid was, without comparison, returning home"

Constantly moving to new countries can pose a difficult childhood in various ways, research finds.

The Polish Independence March 2021 – nationalized nationalism

The Independence March passed through Warsaw once again. This time, no flat was burnt, no shops were vandalized, no squat or embassy attacked, and no freshly planted trees were torn out. According to Przemyslaw Witkowski, this is a worrying development, as it signals that nationalists are gaining political power in Poland and beyond.

UN Lebanon-mission in 1978: Norway wanted to support the UN and the US – sent troops off in a hurry without really understanding the consequences

Historians have now gone through classified documents to understand what really happened behind the scenes when Norway almost immediately agreed to participate in the UN force. Former UNIFIL soldier Harald Stanghelle is sceptical of some of the researchers' analyses.

Transformation of the Far Right: What can protest event analysis tell us?

The far right today is a global and diverse phenomenon, that encompasses a wide range of different actors and organizations. Tamta Gelashvili argues that scholarship on the far right would benefit from the use of Protest Event Analysis (PEA) to analyze and compare far-right mobilization across cultural contexts and over time.

From grassroots to government: far-right threats to academic freedom

In recent years, and particularly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, far right forces have increased efforts to systematically undermine the principles of academic freedom. Léonie de Jonge, Iris Beau Segers and Cathrine Thorleifsson highlight the urgency of defending academic freedom against governmental interference and protecting researchers from threats and intimidation.

Lega East? A close look at AfD’s electoral strength in eastern Germany

The electoral showing of Alternative für Deutschland (AfD, Alternative for Germany) at past Sunday’s general election in Germany highlights once again that it is essential to scrutinize the party’s strength in eastern Germany, writes C-REX Postdoctoral Fellow Manès Weisskircher.

Do not let the fear of terror rule. Other dangers threaten democracy

Right-wing terrorists do not pose the greatest far-right threat to liberal democracies, according to C-REX scholar Jacob Aasland Ravndal.

Militant political Islam wins, peaceful political Islam loses – Is that the lesson we want to teach the world?

Whilst the world closely watched the debacle in Afghanistan, equally important events in Tunisia fell under the radar. Ironically, the dissolution of the Tunisian parliament enhances the lessons that jihadists might draw from Afghanistan. The combined lessons from events in Tunisia and Afghanistan send a signal that will come back to haunt the West.

Low income workers and young people could end up fleeing the big cities. We need to rethink housing in Norway, say researchers

When the gap between housing prices and what first-time buyers can afford becomes too big, new ways of thinking emerge.

Researchers to investigate whether foreign powers attempted to influence Norway’s 2021 parliamentary elections

The Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) will try to assess if the election was subjected to attempts by foreign actors to influence election-related information.

Researchers have figured out what it takes to be among the political elite in Norway

Almost all of the politicians in Norway’s Parliament, the Storting, are career politicians. Norwegians should be happy about that, researchers say.

Stable trends in unstable times: Right-wing terrorism and violence in Western Europe in 2020

Right-wing terrorism and violence in Western Europe in 2020 was not significantly influenced by COVID-19 nor by the activism of the Black Lives Matter movement. Instead, the RTV report recently published by C-REX shows that 2020 represents a continuation of previous trends.

On the ideological and cultural diversity of current antisemitism

In May this year, the latest round of hostilities in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict set in motion a wave of antisemitic attacks targeting Jews in Europe and the US. A closer look at these incidents demonstrates the ideological and cultural diversity of current Jew-hatred. In order to understand this diversity, a broader historical perspective is helpful.

The party that wins this battle, wins the Norwegian national election

Norwegian politics has become a battle over ownership of different issues. This has made this year’s national election campaign a competition to place each party’s cause at the top of the political agenda.

Why are young climate activists being harassed online?

How does this kind of abuse impact young people’s political engagement?

Arguing over road tolls can be good for the climate, researcher says

The debate over road tolls has helped Norwegians to talk about the politics of wealth distribution in the climate debate, researcher Tarje Wanvik says.

Reduced Norwegian oil exports will reduce global emissions according to researchers

Other countries will not follow suit and produce enough oil to close the gap, the researchers say. Some Norwegian politicians and the oil industry however beg to differ.

The Progress Party’s anti-Islam hinterland

The Progress Party leader Sylvi Listhaug’s use of the conspiratorial term ‘sneaky Islamization’ is a prime example of right-wing populist rhetoric.

How online lies destroy life and health

Misinformation on social media has consequences for life and health. The Covid pandemic has made it even worse.

Lower corporate taxes pay off for both the state and the business community

A decrease in the corporate tax of just one percentage point increases investment in business and industry by 0.6 per cent.

Why did Muslims become the new enemy in Norway and Europe?

Anti-Muslim views have become more widespread in Europe over the past 30 years, but it is important to distinguish between criticisms of certain forms of Islamic practice and the belief that Muslims are taking over Europe.

Who your parents are matters more and more, even in the social democracy of Norway

The differences in wealth between Norwegians is now far greater than in several other European countries.

‘Live by the Sword…’ The Death of Chad’s President and the Future of Security in the Sahel

OPINION: Despite his authoritarian rule, Idriss Déby Itno was seen as stabilising force in the Sahel region. His death might create a power vacuum, writes Marc Lanteigne.

New study shows Norwegians disagree about who was impacted by the terror attacks in 2011

Around 90 percent of the survey respondents believe that the terror attacks were a result of madness, and just over 80 percent believe that right-wing extremist ideology was behind the attack.

The abortion debate hasn't always been focused on the fetus' right to life

Throughout history, opponents and proponents have used many arguments for and against abortion.

Efforts to promote peace can make women more vulnerable

In recent years, gender has become an important factor in the international work against extremism. But some researchers fear that when women become part of the first line defence against radicalisation, they also become more vulnerable.

Norwegian professor received death threats from Ethiopians in exile

One of the world’s leading experts on Ethiopia, professor Kjetil Tronvoll, is being harassed by Ethiopian authorities, and has received death threats from Ethiopians in exile.

New report shows workers in the fossil fuels industry have a deep distrust of environmentalists

Distrust against environmentalists is widespread among those employed in oil- and gas-related businesses. There’s also a sense of bitterness against unions that are pushing for a more climate friendly industry.

Creeping Fascism in America

The January 6 attack on the US Capitol was not unexpected. It was anticipated by numerous warning signs, and it built upon a years-long process of radicalization that involves, but is not limited to, Trump supporters.

Coronavirus measures are dividing Scandinavia. What is going on with the Swedish border?

OPINION: For people living near the border between Norway and Sweden, moving between the two countries was part of everyday life. The border was something they rarely – if ever – thought about. Coronavirus measures have changed this, dividing families and causing unemployment in Swedish border municipalities .

The border between Norway and Sweden is closed for the first time since 1954. Will the pandemic ruin their special friendship?

The Nordics were supposed to be the most integrated region in the world. But along came the coronavirus.

What is Happening to the Dutch Far Right? From Wilders to Baudet… and Back To Wilders Again

This week the Dutch Forum for Democracy (FvD) experienced yet another scandal, but this time the infighting did not favor Thierry Baudet. And so, four years after founding the party, and less than half a year before the next Dutch parliamentary election, Baudet has resigned as party leader, and withdrawn from the top spot on the electoral list, and we can all refocus our attention on the real leader of the Dutch far right, Geert Wilders.

Golden Dawn guilty verdict is a victory for Greek democracy. But will it solve the country’s deep political divides?

While the Golden Dawn verdict is a positive step for Greek democracy, it is still important to understand why circa 500,000 Greek citizens voted this criminal organization in the parliament, despite the fact that its violence was well known.

American politicians use the Nordic region as both a role model and a scare tactic

Different groups use the Nordic countries for different rhetorical purposes, one political scientist observes.

The richest Norwegians pay the least taxes

Researchers now see that income inequality in Norway is much greater than official figures have shown.

Norway needs coronavirus-style measures to start the green shift along the coast

OPINION: Norway’s coastal communities and ocean industries want stricter regulations and greater investment in becoming more sustainable. Governments around the world have acted swiftly to suppress the coronavirus – a similar coordinated effort would be an effective tool to combat the climate changes we are facing.

What kind of person supports illegal hunting of Norway’s wolves?

If you think it’s okay to shoot wolves illegally, you are probably also opposed to immigration and a climate sceptic. Living in proximity to where wolves are found in Norway however, has little influence on your opinion, researchers say.

The coronavirus pandemic has taught us something important: Technocrats are no longer precautionary

OPINION: In present-day Sweden, an expert – state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell – is de facto head of state. Tegnell has based his strategy on model projections rather than testing and tracing, and the venture is proving a spectacular failure, writes Emil Flatø

Another brick in the wall: Covid-19 and the crisis of the liberal order

Covid-19 risks being another hit to the liberal world order, argues GLOBUS researcher Sonia Lucarelli.

CasaPound Italia: Contemporary Extreme Right Politics

How does a relatively small far right group, with little electoral support, attract international media attention and influence national politics? A recently published book by C-REX researchers Pietro Castelli Gattinara and Caterina Froio uses the example of CasaPound Italia to illustrate the new and often surprising forms that right-wing extremism is taking across the globe.

Norwegians support corona measures – but do not trust that the social security system can handle the consequences

Only one in five trust that the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) can handle the consequences of the financial crisis that the virus has created.

Norwegian government: "The goal is to beat the coronavirus epidemic as much as possible"

The goal is to delay the spread of infection as much as possible, says Espen Rostrup Nakstad from the Norwegian Directorate of Health. Geir Bukholm from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health says the end point will likely be immunity in the Norwegian population.

Norwegian financial crisis package may help stabilize the economy in the face of coronavirus shutdowns, says professor

The Norwegian government’s stringent measures against the coronavirus can affect house prices, wages and consumption. The situation could be just as serious for the Norwegian economy as the financial crisis in 2008 and the market crash after the peak in the 1990s, one economics professor says.

Development of right-wing violence in Western Europe

The RTV trend report recently published by C-REX shows that, since the 1990s, severe forms of right-wing terrorism and violence in Western Europe have decreased, particularly gang-related and unorganized forms of violence. Today, so-called ‘lone actors’ carry out most of the violence, a trend that has been reinforced by the emergence of various online platforms.

How fair are today’s pensions?

“We clearly see from this research that people’s self-interest plays a role when they tell us what they think is a fair retirement pension,” says one researcher.

Far right groups in Norway instigate more street provocation than before

New groups are adopting more radical measures.

Equality hasn’t reached entrepreneurs

Only 20 per cent of entrepreneurs who start limited companies are women, and they own only 4 per cent of new technology companies.

Is private finance a panacea for sustainable development?

The EU has pushed for a strong role of the private sector to finance the sustainable development goals. However, an increased role of the private sector might be at odds with the EUs fundamental rights commitments, argues Sunniva Hustad.

Like most people, Norwegian bureaucrats rarely read research

When Norwegian civil servants want research-based knowledge, they use Google or ask a colleague.

Far Right Politics Has Changed. So Should We!

As far right politics is becoming an ever bigger part of mainstream politics, opponents and scholars of the far right have to leave their 20th century thinking behind and critically review their received wisdom. What might have been true in the 1990s, might no longer be true today. Taboos have been broken, preferences have shifted, and the broader political context has become much more accepting to far right politics and politicians.

25 years with The European Economic Area: Politicians, government agencies and Norwegians in general lack knowledge about the country’s agreement with the EU

The 25-year-old European Economic Area (EEA) agreement has been a success for Norway, according to the head of the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI). But its successes are almost unknown in Norway.