The Norwegian Exception? : Norway's Liberal Democracy Since 1814

How did Norway become a highly successful liberal democracy?Will its prosperity and stability last, or has modern history been an exception?Is the Norwegian experience based on luck, or has a part been played by clever politicians and sound institutions, including a well-functioning rule of law?How does Norway combine social democracy with a market economy, and extensive foreign trade?Since the 1970s, Norway has become an oil-producing giant in Northern Europe--how can that role be reconciled with the realities of climate change, and increasing awareness of that crisis?This highly engaging book introduces Norwegian political and economic history to a broad audience, offering a deeper understanding of a country always looked upon with great interest, but perhaps not profoundly understood.The Norwegian Exception? takes the reader back through 200 years of state-building to explain Norway's current position as a top-ranking nation, and to consider its chances of keeping that status in the twenty-first century.In particular, it unpacks how Norwegian politics and governance have shaped the country's world-famous oil fund and unique relationship with the European Union.Leading historians Mathilde Fasting and Øystein Sørensen skilfully draw back the curtain on the inner workings of the Norwegian 'utopia'.