Peace Diplomacy and the Domestic Dimension of N orwegian Foreign Policy: The Insider's Accounts

By focusing on the internal conditions and rationale behind the development of N orwegian peace diplomacy (as seen by N orwegian diplomats and nongovernmental organisation representatives), this study argues that the high level of the country's engagement in international peace efforts and its success in pursuing a ‘niche diplomacy’ can be attributed to two factors. First, it is the ability of the N orwegian government to capitalise on the society's belief that N orwegians are a ‘Peace Nation’ with a missionary obligation. Second, it is the existence of the so‐called ‘ N orwegian Model’, which allows creating efficient interactions between government, civil society and research institutions in specific foreign policy efforts. Both factors combined make N orwegian peace diplomacy a model example representing New Public Diplomacy, where domestic civil society remains both an audience (‘ N orway as a Peace Nation’ notion) and a driver ( N orwegian model of cooperation) of state public diplomacy efforts.