DIMENSIONS OF NATIONAL IDENTITY IN NORWAY

The article is based on a Norwegian enquete about national identity. F ive dimensions of national identity is revealed from dimensional analy sis and theoretical discussion. These dimensions are named Norwegianne ss, Chauvinism, Give preference to Norwegian, National pride, and Welf are pride. Norwegianness taps an ethnic-cultural dimension; Chauvinism taps the notion that Norway and Norwegians are a better country and a better people than other countries and their inhabitants; Give prefer ence to Norwegians is based on the idea that national culture and prod ucts should be protected from foreign influence and competition; Natio nal pride indicates a general pride in Norwegian history and tradition s; whereas Welfare pride means pride in relation to the welfare state and the democracy - that is, a civic, territorial dimension of nationa l identity. The antecedents of the these dimensions are analysed by ex amining their relationships with social structural variables and value orientations. Norwegianness, Chauvinism, and Give preference to Norwe gian have very similar antecedents. Those who emphasise these types of national identity strongly are elderly people, workers, and those wit h little education. Farmers emphasise strongly Give preference to Norw egians. These same dimensions are also emphasised by individuals with materialist and authoritarian political values. National pride and Wel fare pride are both loosely coupled to social structure and value orie ntations. Those who have a high degree of welfare pride are, however, most likely to be found among the younger age groups and those with hi gher education. National identity is generally only weakly coupled to Old Politics value orientations like religious/secular and economic le ft-right values but quite strongly coupled to New Politics orientation s.