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Social Studies: free practice, theory and problems
Norway is a representative democracy: we elect representatives who govern on our behalf. Power is divided, and the government must have Parliament's confidence.
Contents
- Democracy and politics in Norway
- Rule of law and human rights
- Economy, working life and welfare
- International politics
- Identity, socialisation and culture
- Media and source criticism
1. Democracy and politics in Norway
What is it about?
Norway is a representative democracy: we elect representatives who govern on our behalf. Power is divided, and the government must have Parliament's confidence.
Concepts and formulas
- Separation of powers: Parliament (legislative), the government (executive) and the courts (judicial).
- Parliament (Stortinget) has 169 members and is elected every four years. Local and county elections are also every four years, midway between parliamentary elections.
- Right to vote from the year you turn 18.
- Parliamentarism: the government must resign if a majority in Parliament passes a vote of no confidence.
- Majority and minority governments: a minority government must win support from other parties issue by issue.
- The 4 % threshold applies to the levelling seats.
- The Sami Parliament (since 1989) is the elected body of the Sami people.
- Political parties are often placed on a left–right axis: the left wants more redistribution and a larger public sector, the right more emphasis on markets and lower taxes.
Example
A party gets 3.8 % of the votes nationally. It is below the threshold and gets no levelling seats, but it can still win constituency seats in counties where it is strong.
2. Rule of law and human rights
What is it about?
Under the rule of law the same laws apply to everyone, including those in power. Human rights protect the individual against abuse by the state.
Concepts and formulas
- Legal certainty: you should know which rules apply, get fair treatment and be able to appeal.
- Presumption of innocence: everyone is considered innocent until proven guilty.
- The courts: district court → court of appeal → Supreme Court.
- The age of criminal responsibility in Norway is 15.
- The UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948.
- The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) applies as Norwegian law and is enforced by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
- Purposes of punishment: to prevent new crime (deterrence and rehabilitation) and to show that society condemns the act.
Example
A person is convicted in the district court and thinks the judgment is wrong. They can appeal to the court of appeal.
3. Economy, working life and welfare
What is it about?
Norway has a mixed economy: the market produces most goods, while the state provides schools, health care and benefits, funded by taxes. The cooperation between working life and the state is called the Norwegian model.
Concepts and formulas
- The circular flow: households sell labour to firms and buy goods back. The state and banks also take part.
- GDP: the value of everything produced in a country in a year.
- Inflation: prices rising over time. Norges Bank uses the policy rate to keep inflation near 2 %.
- Tripartite cooperation: employees (for example LO), employers (for example NHO) and the state.
- The welfare state: free schooling, health services and benefits such as unemployment pay and pensions. The National Insurance Scheme came in 1967.
- Tax: progressive tax means you pay a higher share the more you earn.
- Unemployment: the share of the labour force who want to work but have no job.
Example
When inflation is high, Norges Bank raises the interest rate. Loans get more expensive, people spend less, and price growth slows.
4. International politics
What is it about?
No country manages on its own. Norway cooperates through the UN, NATO and the EEA, and international conflicts and agreements affect us directly.
Concepts and formulas
- The UN was founded in 1945. The Security Council has five permanent members with a veto: the USA, Russia, China, the United Kingdom and France.
- NATO was founded in 1949, and Norway was a founding member. Article 5: an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.
- The EU and the EEA: Norway said no to EU membership in referendums in 1972 and 1994, but takes part in the single market through the EEA Agreement (since 1994).
- Globalisation: more trade, travel and information flow between countries.
- Aid: Norway gives about 1 % of gross national income to development aid.
- Realism and idealism are two ways of understanding international politics: power and self-interest, or cooperation and shared rules.
Example
When Russia launched a full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022, the Security Council was paralysed because Russia has a veto.
5. Identity, socialisation and culture
What is it about?
Who you are is shaped by family, friends, school, media and culture. Social studies looks at how we learn norms and roles, and how prejudice and exclusion arise.
Concepts and formulas
- Socialisation: the process by which we learn norms, values and skills. Primary: in the family early in life. Secondary: school, friends, media, working life.
- Norms: unwritten and written rules for how to behave. Breaking them can lead to sanctions (positive or negative).
- Roles: expectations tied to a position, for example student, son or coach.
- Identity: who you feel you are, and how others see you.
- Prejudice: negative attitudes to a group without good reason. Discrimination: treating someone worse because of, for example, gender, ethnicity or disability.
- Culture: knowledge, values and habits we share and learn from each other.
Example
A new student quickly learns how one "should" dress and talk in class. That is secondary socialisation through friends, and looks and comments are sanctions.
6. Media and source criticism
What is it about?
The media inform us and hold power to account, but social media and algorithms mean we also meet a lot of misinformation. Source criticism is judging what we can trust.
Concepts and formulas
- The fourth estate: the press is called this because it scrutinises and checks the other three branches of power.
- The ethical code of the Norwegian press (Vaer varsom-plakaten) sets the rules. The Press Complaints Commission (PFU) handles complaints.
- Editorial responsibility: the editor is responsible for everything published in an edited medium.
- Algorithms decide what you see on social media. This can create echo chambers, where you mostly meet opinions you already hold.
- Source criticism: Who is behind it? Why was it made? When? Can other sources confirm it?
- Disinformation: deliberately false information. Misinformation: errors spread without ill intent.
Example
You see a shocking picture on social media. A reverse image search shows the picture is ten years old and from another country.
Example problems with solutions
Here are some of the problems in social Studies. In the app, calculation problems get new numbers every time, so you can practise until it sticks – and take a graded practice exam before the real one.
Democracy and politics in Norway: How many members does Parliament (Stortinget) have?
Answer: 169
169 members.
Rule of law and human rights: When was the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted?
Answer: 1948
10 December 1948.
Economy, working life and welfare: What is Norges Bank's inflation target?
Answer: 2 %
About 2 % price growth over time.
International politics: How many permanent members with a veto does the UN Security Council have?
Answer: 5
5: the USA, Russia, China, the UK and France.