ABSTRACT
Norway is undoubtedly a small country. With a population of just over four million, it is about the size of Minnesota, incidentally a US state hosting many inhabitants of Scandinavian descent. Norway is both an old and a young nation. This chapter presents some key concepts in this book. The book presents the basic information on social and historical background, and focuses on the background and current operation of basic political institutions. It deals with the major channels of influencing policies and the level and type of participation found among Norwegian citizens. The book looks into three areas in particular, namely the policies making up the welfare state, the green policies, and the policies on gender equality. It also presents the major structure of decision making in foreign policies, and finally summarizes the various discussions on the themes and the proposition on Norwegian politics.
