Neo Westphalian Europe Part 39: Kingdom of Norway

The Kingdom of Norway is one of the oldest Scandinavian nations. It has existed as its own nation and in union with neighbouring Scandinavian kingdoms, until it settled on its current borders in 1905. It is unlikely that it will change its current form of Government, from a constitutional Monarchy, in the coming restructuring. As has been discussed in an earlier post it is however likely to enter into a Commonwealth with the Norse Northern Isles, off the coast of Scotland. This may increase its access to North Sea oil, as the Norwegian Monarch becomes the head of this Commonwealth.

It is probable that it will lose some of its territory to the newly emerging Sami republic, as the world’s borders are redrawn. However the ethnic Sami population has dwindled a great deal, within the borders of its own nation. It is also suggested that, for geographical reasons, some of the land that currently belongs to the Russian state will go to the Sapmi Republic, even though it was not historically a part of its territory originally. Therefore it is hypothesised that at the other extreme of the Sami nation, in Norway, it will relinquish its claims to land there to balance this new reality out. This will mean that the Nordland County, which is traditionally viewed as a part of Lapland, will stay in the Norwegian state.

This will leave a final Norwegian nation made up of the Ostfold, Akershus, Oslo, Hedmark, Oppland, Buskerud, Vestfold, Telemark, Aust-Agder, Vest-Agder, Rogaland, Hordaland, Sogn og Fjordane, More og Romsdal, Ser Trondelag, Nord Trondelag and Nordland Counties, currently a part of Norway. Added to this will be the Jan Mayen Island and the Svalbard Archipelago, also currently a part of Norway.

The flag of Norway is based on the Nordic cross design of most of the Scandinavian flags. A Member of Parliament designed it in 1821. At the time however Norway was in union with Sweden, so variant flags which incorporated the Swedish flag were used. Norwegians flew their flag only in northern waters. When the union ended in 1905 the flag was finally adopted as the true national flag of Norway.

Go To Part 40