Norway is the only country in northern Europe, along with Iceland, which does not belong to the European Union. With just over five million inhabitants in such a vast territory, Norway has taken advantage of all its resources and, at present, annually ranks the top countries where people live happier and better quality of life there. But is it all as idyllic as it seems at first glance?
Norway is not a country that might refer to as ancient when compared with, for example, Spain. First he was linked to Sweden and Denmark in the Union of Kalmar; after the departure of Sweden, Norway was part of Denmark until 1814, at which time the territory was ceded back to Sweden. Although punctually unions could benefit stakeholders in early 1900 the discontent of the Norwegian population with the situation of inferiority to which they were subjected had escaped from the hands of a power structure that was far away . Finally, in 1905 the union was dissolved after giving the Norwegian throne Prince Charles of Denmark and after holding a referendum that would restore the monarchy in the country. Carlos of Denmark took the name Haakon VII and created since then a line of independent and own lineage.
Was it as easy as giving a Danish king crown and hold a plebiscite? Obviously, no. On May 17, 1814, to protest the Danish cession of the territory to Sweden, a constitution that declared the Kingdom of Norway was signed as an independent state. Union with the Swedish country came anyway, and with it, the subsequent ban on any act related to an unrecognized by the legitimate state framework Constitution. King Juan Carlos XIV of Sweden and Norway- III considered that these acts could be the beginning of rebellions and larger protests and tried by all means to suppress such events. In 1829, after a particularly strong revolts, the monarch would eventually lift the ban, and in 1905, when Norway declared -independent again,
The road after the declaration of independence was not easy for the territory. Industrialization came to Norway later than many countries because of the dependence derived from their unions with Sweden and Denmark, which would be added the Nazi invasion during World War II after pleading neutral country in World War II. Germany defeated and withdrawn its troops from Norway, the country underwent a process of legal purge during which all those who had collaborated with the Nazis were accused of treason and, in some cases, executed .
The modern image of Norway no resemblance to previous history; Indeed, it seems it is talking about two different countries. However, then Norway and circumstances are the direct cause of the point where it is today and its model of state. The context, in all its aspects, it is always essential to better understand now how we got it.
The most opportune oil
Norway is a sovereign state in Europe with a parliamentary democratic monarchy and, geographically speaking, it is part of the Scandinavian peninsula. With a population that is less than five and a half million inhabitants, concentrated mostly in urban areas - 81%, according to latest figures - it has managed to gain a foothold in the international scene with three issues that deserve worth analyzing.
First, the oil, which strikes both committed to the environment image of the country. In Norway, many are more than willing to talk about the wonder that meant that discovery. Consider it an early Christmas present that came in 1969, when the discovery was confirmed Ekofisk , which would prove to be one of the largest oilfields in the Norwegian continental shelf in the North Sea. After the discovery, two countries came running to the call of crude: US and Japan. These two countries offered the construction of oil platforms in very short period of time, which could start pumping almost immediately; in exchange forwanted a considerable percentage of the profits.
The government then refused, tell the Norwegians with some national pride, and preferred to opt for a slower way, but sure: train their own people and build their own platforms, but it will take longer; Norwegian oil well would be and nobody else. How much truth is there in this story that runs from mouth to mouth in the Nordic society is difficult to know, but we can say that the discovery of this oil field is a fact that is remembered with happiness, since it prompted an economy that that time did not really know how to grow.
The North Sea oil was for the Norwegians one godsend and the country's economy has since been closely related to this field. However, it should be clear that electricity comes almost 96% of hydroelectric plants across the country, taking advantage waterfalls and strength to create energy. And oil? In 2016 the extraction and production of crude was a 14% of GDP and 39% of total exports, which covers approximately 2% of global demand. Norwegian oil extracted, but the remaining quantity for own consumption is low.
Moreover, aware that this fossil fuel will not last forever, in 1990 the Norwegian government decided to create a long - term project; originally it called the Government Petroleum Fund, but now called Global Government Pension Fund . This fund much of the profits from oil exports are destined; then this money is moved between different types of investment in companies around the world . This sovereign fund, the Norwegian government is trying, above all, that the benefits of oil are also available for future generations.
Life beyond oil
Secondly, we should talk about tourism. In 2008 Norway had not taken the final to the massive influx of tourists jump. The city streets were virtually empty even in summer- and Bergen, the second largest city in Norway, the Spanish emigre who worked in the market had assumed the wonders that the summer employment in a country where almost one euro equaled eight crowns. Nationals of a country that counts now with a rate of 4.7% unemployment , the Norwegians were unable to understand what was happening in southern Europe.
In 2015 , almost 4 million people visited Norway during holidays; the tourism sector accounts for 4.2% of national GDP . The country sells itself as a place that combines nature and street circuits, but is especially explode first. With its national parks and places that add value, such as the Lofoten Islands, Norway can boast of offering unique experiences to its visitors. While it is true that tourism figures have not undergone abrupt changes in short periods of time - as has happened in Iceland , for example, Norway lives in recent years , a rebound in the sector received with optimism.
This increase in the number of visitors is due to several reasons . On the one hand, the weakness of the Norwegian krone against the euro or sterling, the main regions of origin of visitors -9.47 and 10.63 crowns, respectively, per euro and per pound, which makes it more attractive the destination to be more competitive and economical. On the other hand, the various terrorist attacks in recent years throughout the world and particularly in different European tourism has shifted to other countries where the perception of safety is higher.
Third, the model and welfare state. Due to the prevailing social democracy in the country, the Norwegian state defines himself deeply involved in key sectors. It is the owner or majority shareholder of companies like Statoil petrolero- a sector, Statkraft -energy hydro - electric plant or -telecomunicaciones- Telenor, among others. Also it controls the largest Norwegian bank DNB. This state control combined with other factors that make possible the Norwegian welfare model: political participation and social awareness are key to the network, as well as the great weight of employment in the public sector - 30% -.
This welfare model, so envied in southern Europe, has as basic pillars high social protection, education as a basis for development and employment system straddles protectionism and flexibility that produces such low unemployment rates we have mentioned.
And the European Union?
Norway is not part of the European Union, although it is a member of the Schengen area, the European Economic Area and the European Free Trade Association, which complies with the EU a common market with free movement of persons, goods, services and capital - in fact, European countries are the main destinations of its exports -. In addition, he is an active member of several European cooperation projects such as Erasmus or Frontex program. Accession to the EU has voted in two referenda -1972 and 1994, both with negative results. Understand the reasons for this decision can be easier than it seems.
At the head of the most important reasons we are: the question of sovereignty. This is a country that achieved real independence until 1905, when it was finally separated from Sweden. This recent history and the actual construction of the country makes the Norwegians, generally, feel refusal to give back part of national sovereignty to a supra-state as the European Union. A society generally content with their political system sees the process of decision-making in Brussels as something very complex and far. To this protectionism and the desire of Norwegians to maintain certain historically important sectors in the country, such as agriculture or add fishing , as key development areas.
However, the relation of Norway with the European Union remains the subject of national debate and its particular situation has returned to be on the table in recent months, particularly since the United Kingdom suggested a type similar to the Norwegian agreement after departure EU, something that Norway has completely discouraged. In order to have access to the common internal market and the economic zone, the Norwegian Government must accept two conditions: first, contributing to European budgets; the second, to adopt a series of reforms and measures and implement European laws, whose creation process and have no voice or vote. Of course, it is not a favorable situation for Norway, which is neither inside nor outside the EU. However, the general rejection showing citizenship towards accession, together with the delicate situation in which is now Europe makes only 18% of the current population claiming they would vote if they convene an third referendum.
The basement of perfection
Life seems idyllic in a country that leads the World Happiness Report 2017 . Also ranks third on the list of best countries for women, highlighting the relative equality between the sexes that exists in Norway, with a working maternity leave of 35 weeks with 100% of salary or up to 45 weeks with 80% and a flexible labor market and telematic facilities for work.
However, the double terrorist attack that hit the country in 2011 and authored by Anders Breivik showed a problem that was becoming serious: the rise in popularity of the extreme right xenophobic. Breivik saw increased immigration a threat to the purity of European culture and homogeneity of Norwegian society according to his words, he was forced to act -. Although this attack was a rebound effect in the Norwegian society and the populist rhetoric of the extreme right was I quieted for a while, the problem persists and increasing spans similar approaches Norway.
The Nordic country, formerly known for receiving a high percentage of international asylum requests, now registers the lowest number of applications in many years because of new immigration policies and strengthening European borders . Part of society begins to echo the speech against immigration and the clash of cultures, parallel to the increasing perception of social inequality, space that leverage far - right parties as the Progress Party.
However, there is no cause for alarm at the moment. The force model Norwegian welfare is that it has become naturalized in society and because of the high participation in the political life of citizens, are demanding in their demands and able to ask the rulers accountable for their actions. But we must remain vigilant, because the rise of the extreme right in countries like Norway shows a reality: with the right situation, no one is safe from this kind of populism .
misteri1963 published
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