Norwegian Interests. Foreign policy for a globalised world

Basis report for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ project (*) “Refleks: Globalisation and national interests (Leiv Lunde and Henrik Thune et al.)”.

Norwegian Interests. Foreign policy for a globalised world (**).

Dear reader,

Roughly a quarter of a century ago, a book called ’Lille land – hva nå?’ (What now little country?) was published in Norway. The book’s author was Knut Frydenlund, then member of parliament and for many years Norwegian Foreign Minister. The aim of the book was simple enough -  to generate debate about Norway’s relations with the rest of the world. Or, as Knut Frydenlund emphasised: ‘Foreign policy is no longer a field for the few, for the experts and some politicians. It concerns everyone in their day-to-day lives. People must therefore be given an opportunity to become involved in foreign policy decisions.'       

Mr Frydenlund wrote this in 1982, and I do not think anyone could disagree with him. Good foreign policy can only be developed through debate. Openness combined with a broad dialogue is a fundamental and essential foreign policy resource. Debate is a precondition for what remains one of the most important tasks of politics – to transcend current concerns and look beyond the challenges of the moment.

In 2006, I therefore announced that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would instigate a project aimed at starting a broad discussion of Norwegian interests in a changed and globalised world (the Refleks project). We must have the courage to discuss our own interests in the world. We need to learn more about how the different goals and needs of Norwegian society are being challenged by globalisation and how we best can further them. We have to challenge ourselves. We must dare to test whether the established tenets of foreign policy are still valid.

In order to help achieve this, I have asked the Refleks project to produce an independent basis report entitled Norwegian Interests: Foreign policy for a globalised world.  I have asked its authors to freely and boldly express their views on how they see Norway’s most important interests and foreign policy challenges in light of the rapid global changes we are witnessing today. The report draws on almost 200 contributions in the series of publications ’Globale Norge - hva nå?’ (Global Norway – what now?) that was launched in 2007 (see www.regjeringen.no/refleks).

The authors include both experts from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and specialists from knowledge communities outside the Ministry. The report is aimed at everyone who is interested in Norwegian foreign policy, and the goal is to stimulate reflection and debate. 

The report not only touches on fields in my own area of responsibility as Foreign Minister, it also deals with areas that are the responsibility of other ministers. This reflects the fact that nearly all areas of society are influenced by international affairs. The contents of the report are the responsibility of the group. It contains proposals and analyses with which I would agree, but also ones which I do not share. The same will apply to my colleagues in the Government.

The Government’s view will be presented in a White Paper scheduled for submission in 2009. The report you have in your hands is one of several consultation documents in the process that will culminate with the White Paper.  

With these words, I call for Norwegian interests: Foreign policy for a globalised world to be read and debated.

 

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(*) Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has instigated the project 'Refleks – Globalisation and national interests'. This project aims to stimulate thinking and debate about Norway’s future foreign policy. The project will culminate in a White Paper in 2009. The project staff consists of Project Manager Leiv Lunde, Senior Adviser Eiler Fleischer (basis report and White Paper), Senior Adviser Cathrine Andersen (meeting series, information) and Project Coordinator Aina Holm (meeting series, publications). Full report to be translated by October 2008.

(**) By Leiv Lunde, Henrik Thune, Eiler Fleischer, Leo Grünfeld and Ole Jacob Sending, Oslo 2008.