Norwegian Parties and the Party System: Steadfast and Changing

In the 1960s political scientists predicted the advent of a two-party system in Norway. ¹ However, all the parties of the early 1960s still exist today, apart from the Communist Party that vanished from the public arena long ago. The Labour Party remains the largest party, although much weakened compared to its post-war hegemonic position (Table 1). The Conservative Party is roughly the same size despite several ups and downs. The Christian Democratic and Centre (formerly Farmer's) parties are viable, but electorally volatile, medium-sized parties. Contrary to expectations 40 years ago the political terrain of Norwegian politics is today even more fragmented. In the 1960s the Socialist Left Party (then the ‘Socialist People's Party’) entered parliament, and in the 1970s the Progress Party was established. Today, both are effective parliamentary parties, ambitious to enter into coalition government following the 2005 election.