Hilde Henriksen Waage challenges Norway’s image of itself as a ‘peace nation’ – and Støre must answer the call

For decades, we've happily bought into the story of Norway as some kind of peace superpower. From Gaza to Guatemala, via Sri Lanka and Colombia – Norwegians have been everywhere, cap in hand and pockets full of oil money. But behind the façade of good intentions, the historian Hilde Henriksen Waage has spent over twenty years digging up material that puts cracks in that self-image. Now the debate has well and truly exploded, and the Prime Minister is being forced onto the defensive.

A researcher who won't be bought off

Waage, a senior researcher at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies and a professor at the University of Oslo, has made a name for herself by delving into archives others can't be bothered to open. She's gained access to the inner sanctums of Norwegian diplomacy, and what she finds doesn't sit well with the glossy image. In her research on Norway's engagement in the Middle East, she uncovers a pattern where Norwegian players were often more concerned with alliances with the US and Israel than pushing for a fair two-state solution. It's an uncomfortable claim, but her documentation is solid.

What makes Hilde Henriksen Waage so remarkable is that she doesn't just pick at minor details. She challenges the very foundation of Norwegian foreign policy: the idea that we are a 'neutral' and 'moral' beacon. When she talks about the Oslo Accords, she reminds us that they were largely negotiated in secret, with no public mandate, and that the Palestinian side was strong-armed into accepting terms they really couldn't live with. This isn't the history we grew up with.

The backlash isn't long in coming

In the wake of new interviews and lectures, Hilde Henriksen Waage has ignited the political debate. Several of her criticisms are aimed squarely at the sitting government. In a recent conversation with key political sources, it's clear that Jonas Gahr Støre is being called upon to provide a better explanation. What did he know? What should he have known? Støre, himself a former foreign minister and state secretary, is part of the very establishment Waage is now questioning. She has pored over documents from that period and claims that the explanations given by Norwegian authorities simply don't hold water. Several sources describe them as "outright lies" – strong language in Norwegian political discourse.

This is no longer just an academic debate within the ivory tower. It has become a hot potato in the corridors of the Storting. When one of the country's foremost experts on peace diplomacy says the public has been misled, politicians have to step up. Støre has been reticent so far, but the pressure is mounting.

What exactly is Waage saying?

To understand the gravity of it all, we can highlight some of the core points from Hilde Henriksen Waage's research and criticism:

• The myth of neutrality: Norway has never been a neutral actor in conflicts, but has always had its own interests – often tied to the NATO alliance and trade.
• Hidden agendas: Reviews of archives show that Norwegian diplomats have at times withheld information from parties in a conflict, which undermines trust in the mediator role.
• Lack of self-criticism: Official Norway has refused to reckon with failed strategies, especially in the Middle East. Instead, we pat ourselves on the back as the ultimate peace nation.
• The voice of power: Waage points out that it's often the strong parties that get their way in Norwegian diplomacy, while the weak are left with promises that never materialise.

These points are dynamite. Because if Waage is right, Norway's role in the world isn't just a matter of goodwill, but also one of realpolitik and compromise. And that's precisely why she becomes so threatening to those in power.

A necessary wake-up call

Whether you agree with her or not, Hilde Henriksen Waage forces us to take a long, hard look at ourselves. What actually is Norwegian foreign policy? Are we the altruistic helpers we like to believe, or just a small state that adapts to the major powers? This week, the debate has ebbed and flowed, and it's guaranteed to continue. One thing is certain: the researcher from the University of Oslo has managed to touch a nerve that runs deep in the Norwegian psyche. And once the stitches start to unravel, it's hard to sew it all back together again.

Now it remains to be seen whether Støre and co. can provide the answers that Waage and public opinion are demanding. Because history has a habit of catching up with us – and right now, the historian is the one knocking on the door.