Narratives of Norwegian governance: elaborating the strong state tradition

Author: Christensen T.¹

Source: Public Administration, Volume 81, Number 1, March 2003 , pp. 163-190(28)

Publisher: Blackwell Publishing

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Abstract:

Any account of Norwegian governance must engage with four different state traditions (Olsen 1988): the sovereign rationality–bounded or centralised state, the institutional state, the corporatist–pluralist state and the supermarket state. The first three traditions are historically interconnected, while the supermarket state is a fundamental and recent challenge to them. These traditions have co–existed in different combinations and their significance has changed several times, since the Constitution of 1814. In this article, first, I outline each tradition, tracing its historical roots, dominant actors and the competing definitions and interpretations. Second, I discuss the problems or dilemmas that confronted these traditions and the reforms enacted in response to them. Finally, I assess the consequences of these reforms. I focus on the post–World War II period. I finish by discussing the dynamic interdependence of the different state traditions.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1111/1467-9299.00341

Affiliations: 1: The University of Oslo

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