Ideas, identities and the Eu-attitudes of the political elite in Norway

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between ideas and identities of the national political elite and their foreign policy choices regarding the European Union. Employing a social constructivist approach, this research argues that foreign policy choices are not calculated solely on material interests, but shaped by the ideas, identities, and perceptions of the self and EU. The case study is chosen as Norway due to its unique relationship with the EU. Rejected the EU membership in 1972 and 1994, Norway signed the EEA Agreement in 1992 which brought in the Single European Market together with other aspects of the EU policy, and later on achieved a significant level of EU-adaptation. Thus, in the Norwegian context, ideas, identities, and perceptions of the self and the EU are expected to have an impact on the subsequent policy choices about Europe