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Research ArticleArticles

Why Religion Matters (Or Doesn’t)

Political Legitimation and Delegitimation in Norwegian Party Manifestos

Sven Thore Kloster
Scandinavian Studies, January 2026, 98 (1) 38-67; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/sca.98.1.38
Sven Thore Kloster
Sven Thore Kloster is the director of KIFO: Institute for Church, Religion, and Worldview Research in Norway, where he conducts research on the intersection of religion and politics.
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  • For correspondence: sven.thore.kloster{at}kifo.no
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References

Works Cited

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    Skålvoll Urstad, Sivert 2024. “Religion i Norden.” In Folkekirke i et livssynsåpent samfunn. Perspektiver på Den norske kirke 2019–2023, edited byBrottveit, ÅnundRafoss, Tore W.,291–320. Oslo: KIFO Institutt for kirke-, religions- og livssynsforskning.
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    n.d.. “Pasientfokus.” Store norske leksikon. http://www.snl.no/Pasientfokus. accessed March 21, 2025.
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    Kloster, Sven ThoreLende, GinaLøland, Ole Jakob 2022. Global Christianity: Current Trends and Developments. Eugene, OR: Pickwick.
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    1. Joppke, Christian
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    1. Kasselstrand, Isabella
    Zuckerman, PhilCragun, Ryan T. 2023. Beyond Doubt: The Secularization of Society. New York: New York University Press.
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    1. Kloster, Sven Thore
    2021. “‘Endelig kristne kvoteflyktninger!’ Religion og populisme i norsk innvandringsdebatt.” In Populisme og kristendom, edited byGraff-Kallevåg, KristinKloster, Sven ThoreStålsett, Sturla,47–67. Oslo: Cappelen Damm Akademisk.
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    2022. “Bibelen på Stortinget: Når det blir munterhet i salen.” Kirke og Kultur 127 (4):344–361.
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    1. Løland, Ole Jakob
    2023. “The Bible in Norwegian Politics: Scripture in the Parliamentarians’ Discourse.” In The Nordic Bible: Bible Reception in Contemporary Nordic Societies, edited byKartzow, Marianne BjellandLarsen, Kasper BroLehtipuu, Outi,119–140. Berlin: De Gruyter.
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    von der Lippe, Marie 2025. “The Right to Opt Out: A Comparative Analysis of Exemption Schemes in Scandinavian Public Schools and the Impact of Cultural Bias.” Journal of Beliefs & Values 1:1–15.
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    2016. “Men and Unmen in the Parables of Luke: Reception, Slavery, Masculinity.” Ph.D. diss., University of Oslo.
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    1. Rafoss, Tore W.
    2024. “Sosiale og religiøse trender.” In Folkekirke i et livssynsåpent samfunn. Perspektiver på Den norske kirke 2019–2023, edited byBrottveit, ÅnundRafoss, Tore W.,21–41. Oslo: KIFO Institutt for kirke-, religions- og livssynsforskning.
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    1. Roy, Olivier
    2016. “Beyond Populism: The Conservative Right, the Courts, the Churches and the Concept of a Christian Europe.” In Saving the People: How Populists Hijack Religion, edited byMarzouki, NadiaMcDonnell, DuncanRoy, Olivier,185–202. London: Hurst.
    1. Smith, Leslie Dorrough
    Führing, SteffenHermann, Adrian 2022. Hijacked. A Critical Treatment of the Public Rhetoric of Good and Bad Religion. Sheffield, UK: Equinox.
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    2021a. Det livssynsåpne samfunn. Oslo: Cappelen Damm Akademisk.
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    2021b. “Frykt ikke? Religion, følelser og kristenpopulisme på norsk.” In Populisme og kristendom,edited by Graff-Kallevåg, KristinKloster, Sven ThoreStålsett, Sturla,131–149. Oslo: Cappelen Damm Akademisk.
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    Jupskås, Anders Ravik 2019. “Defending the Endangered Nation. Nordic Identitarian Christianism in the Age of Migration.” In Contested Hospitalities in a Time of Migration: Religious and Secular Counterspaces in the Nordic Region,edited by Bendixen, SynnøveWyller, Trygve,38–54. Oxford, UK: Routledge.
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Political Party Manifestos

  1. Arbeiderpartiet (Ap)2021. “Partiprogram 2021–2025. De store oppgavene løser vi best sammen.” https://www.arbeiderpartiet.no/om/historien-om-arbeiderpartiet/historiske-partiprogrammer/.
  2. Fremskrittspartiet (Frp)2021. “En enklere hverdag. Fremskrittspartiets partiprogram 2021–2025.” https://www.frp.no/files/Partiprogram/2021-2025/Partiprogram-2021-2025.pdf.
  3. Høyre (H)2021. “Høyres stortingsvalgprogram 2021–2025.” https://hoyre.no/politikk/partiprogram/.
  4. Kristelig Folkeparti (KrF)2021. “Ansvar for hverandre. KrFs stortingsprogram 2021–2025.” https://krf.no/politikk/politisk-program/.
  5. Miljøpartiet De Grønne (Mdg)2021. “Arbeidsprogram 2021–2025.” https://mdg.no/_service/505809/download/id/1136375/name/Arbeidsprogram_2021-2025_bokmal.pdf.
  6. Rødt (R)2021. “Rødts arbeidsprogram 2021–2025.” https://roedt.no/arbeidsprogram.
  7. Senterpartiet (Sp)2021. “Vi tror på hele Norge. Senterpartiets prinsipp- og handlingsprogram 2021–2025.” https://www.senterpartiet.no/politikk/program-uttaler/program.
  8. Sosialistisk Venstreparti (SV)2021. “SVs arbeidsprogram 2021–2025.” https://www.sv.no/politikken/arbeidsprogram/.
  9. Venstre (V)2021. “Venstres stortingsvalgprogram 2021–2025. Frihet og muligheter for alle.” https://www.venstre.no/assets/Venstres_Stortingsvalgprogram_2021-2025.pdf.
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Scandinavian Studies: 98 (1)
Scandinavian Studies
Vol. 98, Issue 1
1 Jan 2026
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Why Religion Matters (Or Doesn’t)
Sven Thore Kloster
Scandinavian Studies Jan 2026, 98 (1) 38-67; DOI: 10.3368/sca.98.1.38

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Why Religion Matters (Or Doesn’t)
Sven Thore Kloster
Scandinavian Studies Jan 2026, 98 (1) 38-67; DOI: 10.3368/sca.98.1.38
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  • Article
    • Abstract
    • Religion and Life Stance in Norway and the Development of State Policy on Religion
    • Legitimation Categories and Motifs
    • Methodological Considerations
    • Six Motifs of Legitimation
    • Four Motifs of Delegitimation
    • The Shifting Grounds of Religious Legitimacy in Norwegian Politics
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    • References
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Keywords

  • religion and politics
  • legitimation
  • party manifestos
  • Norwegian politics
  • national identity
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