Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
bershipin1972andagainin1994werenarrowlydefeated.AndNorwaylooksincreasingly
likely to remain on the outside of the EU looking in. After a near 50-50 split for many
years, opinion has hardened against membership - a series of opinion polls in mid-2010
foundthatjust25%ofNorwegiansfavouredmembership,witharoundtwo-thirdsopposed.
For now, the resistance to anyone else telling Norwegians how to live their lives - fostered
during centuries of foreign occupation - seems to be winning the day.
» Area: 385,155 sq km
» Highest mountain: Galdhøpiggen (2469m)
» Number of national parks: 40
» Length of coastline: 25,148km
» Longest border: 1619km (Sweden)
» Shortest border: 196km (Russia)
Struggle for the Soul of Norway
When it comes to its hard-won national identity, Norway stands at something of a cross-
roads. Centuries of hardship forged a strong sense of self-reliance, while the fabulous oil
wealth of the late 20th century nurtured the deeply held belief that Norway, as one of the
richest countries on earth, had to serve as an example of a responsible and tolerant global
citizen.Buttwoissuesinparticular-theenvironmentandimmigration-havecausedNor-
wegians to reassess how they see their country.
Norway's environmental policy is one of the world's most enlightened: new national
parks are being added all the time, Norway is at the forefront of international efforts to
forge agreements cutting greenhouse gas emissions and the government has promised to
make Norway the first carbon-neutral country in the world. At the same time, Norway is a
leading producer of fossil fuels (particularly oil) and has attracted significant internation-
al criticism for its stance on whaling. Shadowing this debate is the growing sense among
many Norwegians that they are losing their connection with the land as the demographic
make-upofthecountryshiftsfromapredominantlyruralpopulationofisolatedfarmsteads
to one where three-quarters of the population now lives in urban areas.
High levels of foreign aid and Norway's important role in mediating international con-
flictsareasourceofgreatpridetomanyNorwegians,butthatself-imagehasbecomemore
complicated with the domestic rise of the Fremskrittspartiet (Progress Party). At parlia-
mentary elections in 2005 and again in 2009, the party - which advocates a crackdown
on immigration - polled around 22% of the vote. In the process it has easily become the
second-largest party in the country.
