Rektors blogg:

Today I attended the opening of ARENA’s conference on Democratic Constitutionalism in Europe. The conference runs over three days and takes place in our University library – Georg Sverdrup’s building. The conference has drawn numerous scholars from abroad.   

The date and the venue of this conference could hardly be more appropriate. The conference opens on the very same date the so called November constitution was signed 200 years ago. The November constitution allowed for union with Sweden. It also marked the beginning of 200 years of peaceful coexistence in the Nordic region. As for the venue: Georg Sverdrup was the first Director of our University library, he was a professor of philosophy, and he played a crucial role in the events that transpired in 1814. Most notably: he told King Frederik VI in no uncertain terms that once he had renounced his position as hereditary sovereign of Norway, the sovereignty had passed to the Norwegian people. Said Sverdrup to the King: “No one has any more right to the Norwegian throne than I or any other Norwegian”. This paved the way for the election of the Constitutional Assembly that fleshed out the constitution that was signed on May 17^th 1814.

The foundation of our university in 1811 was an important step in the process that led to our independence from Denmark three years later. On the bicentennial of our constitution, we should remind ourselves that in the eyes of our founding fathers, a strong and comprehensive university was deemed essential for lasting independence and sovereignty. I am not sure whether today’s buzzword “quality of education” was used in those days – in fact, I doubt it was – but very much in evidence was the idea that the university should educate able civil servants, if necessary by recruiting excellent scholars and teachers from abroad.  It was understood that a sound higher education system was needed to build the key institutions on which the young Norwegian democracy - and indeed all democracies – need in order to prosper and survive. There is no exaggeration to say that the University of Oslo – through its education as well as research - has been instrumental in building the democracy that now has proved its resilience for 200 years.   

There is reason to pause and ask: What’s the point in putting so much effort into marking the anniversary – the bicentennial – of our constitution? In my opinion, it´s about maintaining and preserving the sovereignty that we so much appreciate and so much take for granted. In this perspective, the present conference is part of the continuous work that is needed to uphold and hone the democracy and democratic values to which we all subscribe. As a university we have to realize that democracy is not something that is embedded in our genes. The democratic contract must be renewed for every generation. As a university we can never rest. We must remain vigilant.

One of the most important tasks of a university is to create arenas for debate, securing transparency and participation. Over the past two years, I have headed an international commission on global health, and have experienced firsthand how democratic deficits and lack of transparency negatively impact peoples’ health and wellbeing in many parts of the world. Of particular relevance to today’s topic I have seen how important it is that international treaties and agreements are duly exposed to analyses and open debates, preferably before they are signed and become sticky. In this context, the very last sentence in article 100 of our constitution is very important indeed:  “Det paaligger Statens Myndigheder at lægge Forholdene til Rette for en aaben og oplyst offentlig Samtale”. In English:  “ It is incumbent on the government to provide arenas for a public and open discourse.”

ARENA is such an arena. 

Since 2011, ARENA has worked with the project “The Norwegian constitution in a European context” led by Erik Oddvar Eriksen and John Erik Fossum, and funded by the Research Council. The project stands out with respect to its international perspective and its focus on contemporary European developments, and reminds us that the Norwegian Constitution is based on European ideas and values. Paradoxically, the Constitution stems from the same Europe that today represents important challenges for the Norwegian Constitution.                                                                                                       

Earlier this year, a book release received much attention. The book was called “The Norwegian paradox: About Norway's association with the European Union”, and is edited by Eriksen and Fossum from ARENA. The book shows that Norway's relationship to EU might be considered problematic from a democratic perspective. This will be further discussed during today’s sessions.

ARENA, or The program of Advanced Research on the Europeanisation of the Nation-State, first came into life in 1994. It was established by the Norwegian Research Council on the initiative of Johan P. Olsen. You should all be aware of the fact that we celebrate two anniversaries this year: The Norwegian Constitution is 200 years, and ARENA is 20 years.

Today ARENA is internationally recognized as an important research community engaged in the ongoing exploration of the processes of political change in Europe. I would like to thank ARENA for organizing this three-day conference on such an important topic.