But the foundations stand firm

After the massacre on Utøya on 22 July 2011, Norwegian prime minister Jens Stoltenberg assumed the role as "comforter of the nation". He describes the thinking behind the wording of his statements and sees in their positive reception a "renaissance of the public address". [more]

From dreary housework to endless beauty work

With increased gender equality, commercial interests have gained influence over people's looks and dreams. We are taught that what is on the inside is what counts, but quickly find that beauty is only skin deep. [more]

Look at my dress

When I was 22 I wanted to find a different way of writing about being a man, says Norwegian novelist Geir Gulliksen. It should be possible to be as gentle as a boy or as reckless as a girl. But gender stereotypes have not changed as radically as we think. [Swedish version added] [more]

"I am not a woman writer"

About women, literature and feminist theory today

In the 1970s and 1980s, many women found the female in literature inspiring; but then Nathalie Sarraute snarled in an interview: "When I write I am neither man nor woman nor dog nor cat." Toril Moi finds that since then the discussion has gone nowhere. [Hungarian version added] [more]

When newspapers die...

... it can be a slow and painful business. Many of its current problems are of the newspaper industry's own making. But also in Norway there are signs that some are finally getting the message and shaping up to the future, writes Sven Egil Omdal. [more]

Female football players don't have balls

You need balls to play football. So it is obvious that being a girl just won't do as far as the guys are concerned, says Gerd von der Lippe in a devastating critique of the state of affairs in the reporting and support of women's football in Norway. [more]

Back in the ghetto

The Israeli Right nurtures the image of the nation of Israel as a bastion under eternal siege but fails to see that Israel is laying siege to the Palestinians. The window of opportunity opened by the Oslo agreement has been closed for good, fears Göran Rosenberg. [more]

Must we respect religiosity?

On questions of faith and the pride of the secular society

Secular society's "supermarket of faiths" principle appears from a religious standpoint to be indifferent and mistaken. On the basis for the respect between believer and non-believer that can prevent this tension becoming intolerance. [more]

The memorandum: Roots of Serbian nationalism

An interview with Mihajlo Markovic and Vasilije Krestic

Left- and rightwing intellectuals collaborated on a document that formulated the ideology of Serbian nationalism in the 1980s and 1990s. Two of its authors talk about their involvement. [more]

On the dark side of history

Carlo Ginzburg talks to Trygve Riiser Gundersen

"I consider literary modernism first of all as an attempt to discover new forms of truthfulness. In that respect it is highly relevant to me as an historian." On the problems of relativism and the duty of the historian. [more]

Oasis in the desert

A conversation with Kevin Klose, President of the American National Public Radio

How NPR, the virtually only outlet for fact-based journalism in the US radio market, continues to increase its listenership. [more]

Putting queer theory into practice

What does it mean to be queer and why does it differ from being gay or lesbian? [more]

A new Europe

Romano Prodi talks to Truls Øra

In a frank interview, the President of the European Commission outlines the future for the European Union - and for himself. [more]

Weininger's Vienna

Allan Janik talks to Knut Olav Åmås

Weininger, the hate-figure of Viennese modernism, revisited. [more]

Is this the way to go?

Handling immigration in a global era

As Europe more than ever fortifies its borders against illegal immigrants, what about the increase in human trafficking? [more]

Culture and gender in neo-conservative America

Richard Goldstein talks to Knut Olav Åmås

How far has America really come when it comes to gay rights and gender equality? [more]

Sterilization in Scandinavia - a dark chapter?

What were the real motives behind Scandinavian sterilization practices? [more]

English or Norwegian?

That English has established itself as todays lingua franca is a well-established fact but what will the sociological and political implications of this trend be? Brit Mæhlum takes a look at the situation in Norway. [more]

The World is Shrinking on Newspaper

Some Thoughts on the Norwegian Press

Why is the Norwegian press so blissfully ignorant about international news coverage? Hans Magnus Enzensberger takes a look. [more]

Is this the new fascism?

The apathy and incoherence of the left are letting the Italian right have it all their own way and there are disastrous consequences in the offing, says Italy's leading playwright. [more]

A pluralist democracy

The democracies of today can remain democracies only if they are able to negotiate pluralism and communality, conflict and justice, rationality and identity. Federation is a possible response to this challenge, writes Göran Rosenberg. [more]

Flower power

The only clear thought to seep through the numbness after 22/7 was the relief that an ethnic Norwegian was responsible, writes "Samtiden" editor Cathrine Sandnes. Not because she feels vindicated, but because she is grateful for what is not happening out on the streets. [more]

The worst you can say

Lately it has become very popular to say that you can't say anything anymore without being labelled racist, writes Cathrine Sandnes. And the worst thing you can call someone is "racist". "For my part, I find it a lot worse being called a 'Thai-whore' than a racist." [more]

Mediekritikk er medienes ansvar

Arne Ruth i samtale med Knut Olav Åmås

I norsk presse er det den kollektive tolkningen av verden som har vunnet, sier Arne Ruth i en samtale med Knut Olav Åmås. Den kompakte, kollegiale samstemtheten er et alvorlig problem for mediekritikken. Massemediene må lære seg å bli vant til å bli kikket i kortene, og å få sin utøvelse av makt gransket virkelig kritisk. [more]

Filosofisk punk rock opera

Slavoj Zizek i samtale med Kjartan Fløgstad og Espen Søbye

Dei verkelege heltane i dag er reserveoffiserane i den israelske hæren som nekta å lyda ordrane dei fekk, og helikopterpilotane som flaug over flyktningleiren i Jenin og fekk ordre om å fyra av rakettane sine, men som nekta av di dei berre såg sivile mål. Det er enkelt å vera helt med sitt eige land, men vanskeleg å vera helt mot sitt eige land. Eg ser berre desse som heltar i dag, dei som ikkje følgjer sitt eige land, men som handlar mot sine eigne land, seier Slavoj Zizek. [more]