Sametingsvalget 2021 : Et partisystem i endring?

Abstract

The 2021 Sami Parliament Election: A Changing Party System? explores Sami parliamentary politics in Norway, in particular, events relating to the 2021 election, as well as long-term trends in Sami politics. The data is based on voter surveys that have been conducted during every Sami parliamentary election since 2009 and additional sources, such as informant interviews.

During the 2021 Sami parliamentary election, some established patterns from previous elections continued, but a number of clear breaks also occurred. After the election, the Sami Parliament’s party system appeared to have radically changed. Previously, the Norwegian Sami National Federation and the Labour Party had been the two largest parties, but this time, the People of the North Party (NKF) was the second largest party. This involved a degree of polarization, in that there was greater distance and a sharper tone between the two largest parties. The 2021 Sami Parliament Election: A Changing Party System? covers these developments through its eight chapters. The book opens with an introductory chapter on the 2021 election and how to understand it in a historical context, and continues with a chapter on each of the three largest parties, with in-depth discussions of their development and analyses of their voter bases. A separate chapter deals with the geographical dividing lines in Norwegian Sami politics, which can be said to be driving some of the changes in the party system. Two chapters examine political participation in and between elections: one provides an overview chapter, and the other looks in detail at young voters' motivation to participate in elections. The final chapter looks at which groups among the Sami experience the most harassment and discrimination, with a view to the parties' voter groups.

This book is relevant for all those interested in the Sami democratic system in Norway, and especially students, researchers, journalists and political activists.