Hilde Henriksen Waage challenges Norway's self-image as a 'peace nation' – and Støre must answer the call

For decades, we’ve happily bought into the story of Norway as some sort of peace superpower. From Gaza to Guatemala, via Sri Lanka and Colombia – Norwegians have been everywhere, cap in hand and wallet stuffed with oil money. But behind the facade of good intentions, historian Hilde Henriksen Waage has spent over twenty years digging up material that puts major cracks in this self-image. Now the debate has well and truly exploded, and the Prime Minister is on the back foot.

A researcher who can't be bought

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 opening. She's been inside the innermost circles of Norwegian diplomacy, and what she finds doesn't fit the glossy picture postcard. 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 significant is that she doesn't just quibble over minor details. She challenges the very foundation of Norwegian foreign policy: the idea that we are a 'neutral' and 'moral' lighthouse. When she talks about the Oslo Accords, she reminds us that they were largely negotiated in secret, without public backing, and that the Palestinian side was pressured into accepting terms they could never really live with. This isn't the history we grew up with.

The backlash is immediate

Following recent interviews and lectures, Hilde Henriksen Waage has ignited the political debate. Several of her criticisms land squarely at the feet of the current government. In a recent discussion with key political sources, it's clear that Jonas Gahr Støre is being called upon to provide a proper answer. What did he know? What should he have known? Støre, himself a former foreign minister and state secretary, is part of the same establishment that Waage is now questioning. She's examined documents from that period and claims 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 discussion at the University. It's become a hot potato in the corridors of Parliament. When one of the country's foremost experts on peace diplomacy says we've been misleading people, politicians have to step up. Støre has been keeping his head down so far, but the pressure is mounting.

What is Waage really saying?

To understand the gravity of it, here are some of the core points from Hilde Henriksen Waage's research and critique:

• The myth of neutrality: Norway has never been a neutral player in conflicts, but has always had its own interests – often tied to the NATO alliance and trade.
• Hidden agendas: Examining the archives shows 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 celebrate ourselves as the ultimate peace nation.
• The language 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 explosive. Because if Waage is right, Norway's role in the world isn't just about goodwill, but also about power politics and playing along. And that's precisely why she's so dangerous for those in power.

A necessary wake-up call

Whether you agree with her or not, Hilde Henriksen Waage forces us to take a good, hard look at ourselves. What is Norwegian foreign policy really about? Are we the altruistic helpers we like to think we are, or just a small state that adapts to the major powers? This week, the debate has raged back and forth, and it's guaranteed to continue. One thing is certain: the researcher from the University of Oslo has managed to touch a raw nerve deep in the Norwegian national psyche. And once the stitches start to pull loose, it's hard to sew it all back together.

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