(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
[interests] First a little praise: On 5 December, Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre launched the book series "Global Norway – what now?", packed with independent input about Norway in the world. Earlier this autumn, Minister of Justice Knut Storberget edited the anthology "The bear is sleeping", while Minister of Defense Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen has opened the website forsvarsdialog.no.
The government is opening up for input over a low shoe, in keeping with the textbooks in strategic information and community contact, for example, check JE Grunig's texts on "two-way symmetrical communication". By allowing all critical voices to come to the floor, even in a boxing series with the UD's stately logo on the cover, the government can say: yes, we are listening.
The question is whether the entire dialogue line is most likely to be an instrument for appearing responsive. I hope and believe, so far, that there is something more, but the answer depends on what Støre and company actually do. Inviting to dialogue is nice, but it cannot be an excuse for not taking political action. The government is now over halfway through the four-year period, and it is high time to walk the walk.
Støre has titled his great conversation «Reflex – Norwegian interests in a globalized world». It is in everyone's interest that international cooperation works, and contributes to poor countries coming out of the quagmire and being able to deal with problems related to security and the environment. The climate negotiations in Bali in recent weeks have clearly shown the need for stronger global institutions. But can Norwegian interests in the short and long term come into conflict with each other, Støre?
Here lies a dog buried. "There is an obvious conflict between Norwegian business interests and a development-friendly policy. Norwegian industry and the interests of Norwegian farmers must give way ", said Magnus Bjørnsen in the Joint Council for Africa to Ny Tid on 19 October. "There are no contradictions between Norwegian business interests and business interests in developing countries," replied State Secretary Ola T. Heggem (Sp) in the Ministry of Agriculture.
Støre, who do you agree with, and how can you defend the Norwegian spaghetti policy that is between liberalism on fish and agricultural protectionism? Do you agree with Bjørnsen that Norwegian subsidy policy legitimizes EU and US agricultural dumping that destroys the world's poor?
It is not in Norway's long-term interest to stand firm on Norwegian short-term interests, neither in trade policy nor in the question of oil and climate. The Petroleum Fund is now over NOK 2008.000.000.000. Why is the fund not invested with the intention of curbing the harmful effects of oil use that fill the fund? Such investments will pay off in more ways than one.
