Norwegian Politics and Policy
This course offers an introduction to political science through the Norwegian context.
This is an introductory course meant to offer students an understanding of the basic structures of Norwegian politics. It begins by introducing students to political science as a field of study briefly, before focusing on political structures in Norway. As an introductory course, students will have a gist of the Norwegian political arena by looking at political institutions and administration, elections, Norwegian international relations, politics and the indigenous Sami population among others. Although focus is on Norway, some references could be made to other Nordic countries where comparison is appropriate.
Knowledge and understanding
The student will learn about:
- Concepts, models and theories in political science
- Norwegian political institutions
- The electoral system
- Norwegian international relations
- Political parties
- The Norwegian welfare state
- Politics and policy at the local level
Skills
The student will be able to:
- Conduct a basic analysis of political processes
- Discuss and use theories, models and concepts in an accurate manner
- Participate in public discussions regarding Norwegian politics in a significant way
General competence
The student will:
- Get an understanding of the nature of political science as a study field
- Acquire an understanding of how the current Norwegian political system works
Lectures and Seminars
In the Seminar, students will be put into small groups to work on questions or topics to be presented to the class.
An individual 1 week (6-10 pages home exam). Although the course is delivered in English, the exam can be written in English, Norwegian, Swedish or Danish.