Orientering
Encyclopedia
Orientering was a Norwegian
newspaper which was initially published in December 1952 as an alternative voice. It was absorbed into Ny Tid
in 1975.
There were many reasons for establishing the newspaper, but the most important was perhaps that it had become very difficult to express viewpoints which were critical of NATO and western capitalism
in general.
In 1953 the group from the Labor Party's left wing won, led by Karl Evang
. The editor and spokesman for the group was Sigurd Evensmo
, with Finn Gustavsen
as the co-editor. They also had the support of the Labor Party, such as the party's first Prime Minister
, Christopher Hornsrud
.
The group's party line was an alternative to the third way, critical of both Moscow
and Washington DC. Orientering was therefore opposed to Norwegian membership in NATO, but also gave extensive independence in the imperialism suitable for analysis of international relations. The main current of Norwegian socialism
in the 1950s was polarized between Moscow (Communist Party of Norway
) and Washington (Norwegian Labour Party
). Orientering was almost silent about the Labor Party's newspapers, something which contributed to increasing interest.
The newspaper was characterized by foreign affairs from the beginning. Many viewed Orientering as the only alternative where international questions could be discussed freely. Questions regarding domestic policy grew in large degree after Finn Gustavsen became the editor in 1957. It climaxed with the question of the proposed stockpiling of atomic weaponry in Norway when the national congress in the Labor Party passed a resolution in 1961 allowing for this.
The key people in the inner circle of Orientering considered starting a new party, which would become a reality through the establishment of the Socialist People's Party
in 1961. Gustavsen was one of the party's first two representatives to the Norwegian Parliament and relinquished the role of editor to Evang. Orientering became the advocate of the Socialist People's Party; at the same time the newspaper doubled its frequency to releasing a new issue weekly. The Socialist People's Party did not formally take over the newspaper until 1973. The editor from 1965 on was Kjell Cordtsen.
In 1975-1975 assembly meetings were arranged between the parties on the left after the Socialist People's Party's success in the election of 1973. The establishment of the Socialist Left Party
was approved and would replace the Socialist People's Party, the Norwegian Communist Party (who later withdrew) and the Democratic Socialists with support from a number of independent socialists.
In connection with this process, Orientering was discontinued and absorbed into the Socialist Left Party's new party newspaper, Ny Tid. From the beginning the circulation was several thousand, but this slowly grew to around 19,000 in 1974, while the last issue reached 16,000. The community surrounding Orientering continued in and around Ny Tid.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
newspaper which was initially published in December 1952 as an alternative voice. It was absorbed into Ny Tid
Ny Tid
Ny Tid is Norway's only international news magazine, published in Newsweek-format every Friday. Politically, its history and editorial line is on the left side of the political spectrum and, until its recent sale, it was founded and owned by the Socialist Left Party of Norway...
in 1975.
There were many reasons for establishing the newspaper, but the most important was perhaps that it had become very difficult to express viewpoints which were critical of NATO and western capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
in general.
In 1953 the group from the Labor Party's left wing won, led by Karl Evang
Karl Evang
Karl Evang was a Norwegian physician and civil servant.He was born in Kristiania as a son of assisting secretary Jens Ingolf Evang and Anna Beate Wexelsen . He was a brother of Vilhelm Evang, and a relative of Vilhelm Andreas Wexelsen, Per Kvist and Gunnar Jahn. He met physician Gerda S...
. The editor and spokesman for the group was Sigurd Evensmo
Sigurd Evensmo
-Career:He was born in Hamar. In his younger years he was active in Clarté, a student organization at University of Oslo and in contact with Mot Dag, a forum among the social democratic students . He then joined the Workers' Youth League and worked actively with them...
, with Finn Gustavsen
Finn Gustavsen
Finn Gustavsen was a Norwegian socialist politician active from 1945 to the late 1970s. He was noted for his uncompromising style and willingness to take contrarian stands....
as the co-editor. They also had the support of the Labor Party, such as the party's first Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Norway
The Prime Minister of Norway is the political leader of Norway and the Head of His Majesty's Government. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Stortinget , to their political party, and ultimately the...
, Christopher Hornsrud
Christopher Hornsrud
Christopher Andersen Hornsrud served as Prime Minister of Norway from January to February 1928. He combined the post of prime minister with that of minister of finance. Although his tenure as Prime Minister was brief, his list of political accomplishments is not...
.
The group's party line was an alternative to the third way, critical of both Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and Washington DC. Orientering was therefore opposed to Norwegian membership in NATO, but also gave extensive independence in the imperialism suitable for analysis of international relations. The main current of Norwegian socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
in the 1950s was polarized between Moscow (Communist Party of Norway
Communist Party of Norway
The Communist Party of Norway is a political party in Norway without parliamentary representation. It was formed in 1923, following a split in the Norwegian Labour Party. The party played an important role in the resistance to German occupation during the Second World War, and experienced a brief...
) and Washington (Norwegian Labour Party
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
). Orientering was almost silent about the Labor Party's newspapers, something which contributed to increasing interest.
The newspaper was characterized by foreign affairs from the beginning. Many viewed Orientering as the only alternative where international questions could be discussed freely. Questions regarding domestic policy grew in large degree after Finn Gustavsen became the editor in 1957. It climaxed with the question of the proposed stockpiling of atomic weaponry in Norway when the national congress in the Labor Party passed a resolution in 1961 allowing for this.
The key people in the inner circle of Orientering considered starting a new party, which would become a reality through the establishment of the Socialist People's Party
Socialist People's Party (Norway)
Socialist People's Party was a splinter group of the Norwegian Labour Party . SF was principally dissatisfied with the pro-NATO/European Economic Community external policies of DNA. A group centered around the magazine Orientering had been expelled from DNA...
in 1961. Gustavsen was one of the party's first two representatives to the Norwegian Parliament and relinquished the role of editor to Evang. Orientering became the advocate of the Socialist People's Party; at the same time the newspaper doubled its frequency to releasing a new issue weekly. The Socialist People's Party did not formally take over the newspaper until 1973. The editor from 1965 on was Kjell Cordtsen.
In 1975-1975 assembly meetings were arranged between the parties on the left after the Socialist People's Party's success in the election of 1973. The establishment of the Socialist Left Party
Socialist Left Party (Norway)
The Socialist Left Party or SV, is a Norwegian left-wing political party. At one point one of the smallest parties in Parliament, it became the fourth-largest political party in Norway for the first time in the 2001 parliamentary election, and has been so ever since...
was approved and would replace the Socialist People's Party, the Norwegian Communist Party (who later withdrew) and the Democratic Socialists with support from a number of independent socialists.
In connection with this process, Orientering was discontinued and absorbed into the Socialist Left Party's new party newspaper, Ny Tid. From the beginning the circulation was several thousand, but this slowly grew to around 19,000 in 1974, while the last issue reached 16,000. The community surrounding Orientering continued in and around Ny Tid.
Editors
- Sigurd EvensmoSigurd Evensmo-Career:He was born in Hamar. In his younger years he was active in Clarté, a student organization at University of Oslo and in contact with Mot Dag, a forum among the social democratic students . He then joined the Workers' Youth League and worked actively with them...
1952–1959 - Finn GustavsenFinn GustavsenFinn Gustavsen was a Norwegian socialist politician active from 1945 to the late 1970s. He was noted for his uncompromising style and willingness to take contrarian stands....
1959–1961 - Sigurd EvensmoSigurd Evensmo-Career:He was born in Hamar. In his younger years he was active in Clarté, a student organization at University of Oslo and in contact with Mot Dag, a forum among the social democratic students . He then joined the Workers' Youth League and worked actively with them...
1961–1965 - Kjell Cordtsen 1965–1975