Permalink : http://hdl.handle.net/2115/84830

KEYWORDS : Storting;parliamentary democracy;Christian Frederik;Carl Johan;the Norwegian Crown

Robert A. Dahl and other political scientists have pointed out that Norwegian parliamentary government is one of the most stable democracies in the world. Storting, the supreme legislature of Norway, was established at the constituent assembly at Eidsvoll in 1814. The establishment of the Norwegian constitution was the most important legacy of 1814. This essay illustrates the reasons and the process by which the 112 representatives at Eidsvoll were able to establish the parliamentary democracy in 1814. The constitutional assembly of 1814 faced extraordinary challenges such as the final stage of the Napoleonic War and turmoil in the European political order. To constitute a new political order in Norway, the Norwegian representatives needed not only authority to legitimate themselves, but also power to guarantee their newly established political regime. Unfortunately, the most important players of the Norwegian democracy were neither equipped with adequate authority nor enough power. At this critical moment of change in Norwegian politics, two foreign players stood out -- Christian Frederik and Carl Johan, who competed with each other to gain control of the Norwegian Crown. Christian Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark-Norway had the authority over Norwegian people and could initiate to establish the constituent assembly at Eidsvoll. Carl Johan, the former French marshal named Jean Baptiste Jules Bernadotte, was elected by Swedish parliament as heir to the Swedish throne. He had shown remarkable military skills and administrative capabilities. This essay notes the two historical factors, which contributed to establish the Norwegian parliamentary democracy. First, the synergy of the liberal nationalism of Norwegian representatives alongside the ambitious initiatives of Christian Frederik, and second the compromises between the Norwegian representatives and the cautious pragmatism of Carl Johan.