A Different Country

The idea that Norway is a different country that essentially is separate from the commonplace in our part of the world is often debated. This course will attempt to contest this idea by examining Norwegian history by means of two central questions: Is Norway's development as a society in some way special, or is it just a variation of more typical societal development? To what degree has Norwegian development been controlled by larger forces of international development? Examples of topics that are discussed are the nation building and the religious shift around 1000 C.E., the development of new industries in the late 1500s, modernization and industrialization after 1850, and Norway's relationship to the major powers and international organizations after 1940.

Insight into the significant features of the study of history, and the main trends in Norwegian history as seen from an international perspective.

Lectures/seminars.