Viking Magazine - December 2012 - 24

violence and occupation. " It
also threw them into a culture
of peace and wanting to remain
peaceful, " Kringstad says.
It's likely that Norway's size
also contributes to its desire
for peace. " Living in a small
country with an open economy,
many Norwegians are aware
that we need a stable world with
strong international cooperation, "
Golden says.
Third Party Role
While third parties can play an
important role in peacemaking,
they cannot succeed without the
cooperation of the countries involved.
" Third parties can help,
but we cannot win or impose
lasting peace in other places, "
Golden says.
Establishing a dialogue is
also essential, and parties must
address their main differences in
a way that's acceptable to everyone
involved. That often means
building trust between the peace
promoter, Norway, and the parties
involved.
BROKERS
OF
here are several organizations both in Norway and in
North America that are dedicated to promoting peace
abroad. Here are a few of them:
The Minnesota Peace Initiative, a program of Norway House,
informs the public about important global issues affecting
their lives and helps them become engaged in efforts to repair
these problems. " We offer informative forums on timely global
concerns and connect people with organizations working
for world peace and economic development, " said Peace
Initiative chair Karen Owen Tuzcu. The organization facilitates
peacemaking dialog by featuring prominent speakers who
can give insight on the intricacies of the peace process. The
initiative also focuses on women's and girls' education and
economic development, with the goal of building strong
economies and supporting emerging democracies.
The Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights was
founded in 2006 by former Prime Minister of Norway Kjell
Magne Bondevik in an effort to further peace promotion
24 VIKING DECEMBER 2012
T
abroad. It works internationally, including Kenya, Somalia
and Sudan, to help build stronger democracies based on
coalition building, power sharing and respect for democratic
rights. The Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights -
U.S. Foundation, was formed in 2008 to contribute to build
partnerships in the Unites States. Based in Bloomington,
Minn., it engages local communities to increase grassroots
participation.
The Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue was
established in 2010 and has offices in both Lillehammer
and Oslo, Norway. The center specializes in an academic
environment that provides experience-based knowledge
of conflicts abroad, as well as reconciliation work. For the
last 15 years, the center has developed methods for conflict
resolution in the Balkans. The center offers seminars
focusing on peace education. The goal of the center is to
contribute tools and experiences in peace promotion that
can make a lasting peace in a variety of situations, says Maria
Sommardahl, director.
sonsofnorway.com
http://www.sonsofnorway.com
Viking Magazine - December 2012

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