NEGOTIATING THE NATION

The NATION project (2013-2017) examines national identity as a dynamic process rather than a static entity, focusing on how it is negotiated through top-down state actions, mediated public discourse, and bottom-up everyday experiences. Using data from Norway, France, and the UK, the research highlights the tension between static, often racialized conceptions of nationhood and the plural, heterogeneous reality of modern European societies. Key findings emphasize the role of 'first impressions' and race in shaping boundaries of belonging, the use of national symbols like the Norwegian King to foster inclusive identities, and the impact of religious buildings as sites of resistance and negotiation. The report argues for a plural conception of the nation to counter neo-nationalist populism and promote democratic preparedness.

• National identity is not a fixed entity but is continuously produced and negotiated by both states and ordinary people through everyday life, the mediated public sphere, and political processes.
• In Norway, the King's New Year's speeches have evolved to reflect changing national identities: from a humanitarian nation (1960-1985) to a Christian-cultural nation (1986-2001), and finally to a multicultural and diverse nation (2002-2014).
• Race and skin color often trigger automated 'first impressions' that act as boundaries of the everyday nation, creating a gap between how the nation 'ought to be' and how it is experienced, particularly for youth.
• The construction of mosques and other minority religious buildings in the UK and Norway serves as a site of negotiation and resistance against dominating discourses of what the nation is.
• Analysis of the July 22, 2011 terrorist attacks in Norway suggests that the dominant media framing was that 'nothing would change,' focusing on public security rather than reworking national categories or meanings.
• There is a generational divide in Norway regarding migration-related diversity: individuals aged 60+ tend to view it as something to be tolerated, while those aged 20-59 view themselves as part of a diverse population.

APA

Erdal, M. B., Collyer, M., Ezzati, R. T., Fangen, K., Lacroix, T., Kolås, Å., & Strømsø, M. (2017). NEGOTIATING THE NATION. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/f7b48251-eeb3-4970-8b7f-fc8acd07c719/NATION Report.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Erdal, Marta Bivand, Michael Collyer, Rojan Tordhol Ezzati, Katrine Fangen, Thomas Lacroix, Åshild Kolås, and Mette Strømsø. NEGOTIATING THE NATION. Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2017. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/f7b48251-eeb3-4970-8b7f-fc8acd07c719/NATION Report.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

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BibTeX

@techreport{erdal2017negotiating, author = {Erdal, Marta Bivand and Collyer, Michael and Ezzati, Rojan Tordhol and Fangen, Katrine and Lacroix, Thomas and Kolås, Åshild and Strømsø, Mette}, title = {{NEGOTIATING THE NATION}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2017}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/f7b48251-eeb3-4970-8b7f-fc8acd07c719/NATION Report.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }