Abstract
How does one, in a society which traditionally has been perceived as homogenous and egalitarian, debate issues of immigration and increasing cultural diversity? This article analyses the notion of integration as it has been used and constructed in Norwegian politics from the 1970s until today. It is argued that culture has emerged as an increasingly problematic dimension in integration policy and public debate. While cultural diversity must be accommodated and celebrated, certain cultural practices, especially in relation to women, have also appeared as increasingly threatening to what is considered as fundamental values in Norwegian society.
Résumé
Comment aborder, dans une société traditionnellement perçue comme étant homogène et égalitaire, le débat sur des questions touchant l’immigration et la diversité culturelle croissante? Cet article analyse l’idée de l’intégration telle qu’employée et interprétée dans la politique norvégienne depuis les années 1970 jusqu’au présent. Nous affirmons que la culture devient une composante de plus en plus critique de la politique d’intégration et du débat public. Alors que la diversité culturelle doit être accueillie et célébrée, certaines pratiques culturelles, surtout celles touchant les femmes, semblent constituer un défi de plus en plus important face aux valeurs que l’on considère fondamentales à la société novégienne.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Billig, M. et. al (1988). Ideological dilemmas. A social psychology of everyday thinking. London. Sage Publications.
Bjørklund, T. (1999). Et lokalvalg i perspektiv. Valget i 1995 i lys av sosiale og politiske endringer. Oslo: Tano Aschehoug.
Borchgrevink, T. (1997). Et ubehag i antropologien Norsk Antropologisk Tidsskrift 8(1): 26–36.
Bredal, A. (2001). Arranged marriages in minority families: Family against individual? Paper presented at migration research seminar, Institute for Social Research, Oslo, 03.10.01.
Brochmann, G. (1999) Redrawing lines of control: The Norwegian welfare state dilemma. In G. Brochmann, and T. Hammar. (Eds.), Mechanisms of immigration control: A comparative analysis of European regulation policies (pp. 1–28). Oxford, UK: Berg.
Brox O. (1991) Jeg er ikke rasist, men ... “Hvordan får vi våre meninger om innvandrere og innvandring? Oslo: Gyldendal.
Carling, J. (1999). Arbeidsinnvandring og familiegjenforening 1967–1980. En oversikt med hovedvekt på statistikk. Kulturstudier no. 4 Oslo: Norges Forskningsråd.
Gullestad, M. (2002b). Invisible fences: Egalitarianism, nationalism and racism. Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute 8 (1): 45–63.
Hagelund, A. (1999). Kampen om anstendigheten Innvandringspolitikk i kommunevalgkampen 1999. ISF report no. 13. Oslo: Institute for Social Research.
Hagelund, A. (2003). A matter of decency? The Progress Party in, Norwegian immigration politics. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 29(1): 47–66.
Hagelund, A. (Forthcoming). The importance of being decent. Political discourse on immigration in Norway 1970–2002. Oslo: Unipax.
Karlsen, J., & Dalin, Å (Eds.) (1973). Fremmedarbeidere i Norge-en debattbok. Oslo: Universitetsforlaget.
Laclau, E., & Mouffe, C. (1985). Hegemony and socialist strategy. Towards a radical democratic politics. London and New York: Verso.
Lien I-L. (1997). Ordet som stempler djevlene Holdninger blant pakistanere og nordmenn. Oslo: Aventura.
Lien, M.E., Lidén, H., & Vike, H. (Eds.) (2001). Likhetens paradokser. Antropologiske undersøkelser i det moderne Norge. Oslo: Universitetsforlaget.
Parekh, B. (2000). Rethinking multiculturalism. Cultural diversity and political theory. Houndsmills and London: Macmillan.
Salimi, F. (2001). [odins kvinner] Oslo: MIRA-senteret.
Schachar, A. (2000). Should church and state be joined at the altar? Women’s rights and the multicultural dilemma. In W. Kymlicka, & W. Norman (Eds.), Citizenship in Diverse Societies (pp. 199–223). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Shapiro, M.J. (2000). National times and other times: Re-thinking citizenship. Cultural Studies 14(1), 79–98.
Storhaug, H. (1998). Hellig tvang. Unge norske muslimer, om kjærlighet og ekteskap Oslo: Aschehoug.
Taylor, C. (1994). The politics of recognition. In W. Cutman. (Ed.) Multiculturalism. Examining the politics of recognition (pp. 25–73). Princeton. NJ: Princeton University Press.
Wikan, U. (1995). Mot en ny norsk underklasse Innvandrere, kultur og integrasion. Oslo: Gyldendal.
Wikan, U. (2002). Generous betrayal Politics of culture in the new Europe Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hagelund, A. Problematizing culture: Discourses on integration in Norway. Int. Migration & Integration 3, 401–415 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-002-1022-7
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-002-1022-7