Power Shifts

October 8 2010

The Fritt Ord Foundation and the Norwegian Polytechnic Society invite the public to three meetings at the House of Literature at Wergelandsveien 29 in Oslo. The meetings will be held on Tuesdays, i.e. 5, 12 and 19 October 2010, from 7 to 9 p.m.

The series of meetings entitled Power shifts will consist of the events Global trends, EU – What now? and The Road Ahead for Norway. Global financial and political power structures are in flux. Which new constellations are emerging? What opportunities are arising? This debate series will turn the spotlight on the consequences of those changes for the world, Europe and Norway.

Tuesday, 5 October: Global trends

Globalisation is not only shifting the world’s financial centres of gravity, it is creating new political and cultural conflicts. Can international institutions and relations take the pressure?

The panellists:
Dominique Moïsi, Special Adviser at the Institut Francais des Relations Internationales (IFRI)
Jonas Gahr Støre, Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs
Moderator: Sverre Lodgaard, President of the Norwegian Polytechnic Society and Senior Researcher at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI)
The meeting will take place in English.

Tuesday, 12 October: EU – What now?

Most European countries are struggling with financial crises, welfare systems under pressure and aging populations. Will the EU be revitalised, and assume a central position in a more widely diverse world order?

The panellists:
Wolfgang Munchau, Commentator in the Financial Times
Teija Tiilikainen, Director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs
Øyvind Østerud, Professor of Political Science at the University of Oslo
Moderator: Sten Inge Jørgensen, Journalist at Morgenbladet
The meeting will take place in English.

Tuesday, 19 October: The Road Ahead for Norway?

What consequences will the global power shifts have on Norway? How can we accommodate those challenges? Will a continuation of the EEA agreement seem possible and advisable? What alternatives does Norway have?

The panellists:
Per-Kristian Foss, former Minister of Finance, now MP for the Conservative Party
Liv Monica Stubholt, former state secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Petroleum and Energy for the Centre Party, now a Director at Aker Clean Carbon
Anette Trettebergstuen, MP for the Labour Party
Fredrik Sejersted, Professor of Law and Chair of the EEA Committee
Moderator: Jon Hippe, General Manager of the FAFO Research Foundation

News

Civitates' Tech & Democracy open call

March 6 2025

Civitates – The European Democracy Fund is a pooled philanthropic fund that was set up in 2018 for the sole purpose of addressing democratic decline and closing civic space in Europe. The case for confronting these threats is growing increasingly urgent. Fritt Ord Foundation is one of the initiators and partners of Civitates.

Civitates has launched its Tech and Democracy open call to support organisations working to ensure safer, more inclusive online spaces (social media platforms, search engines etc.) by improving the enforcement of EU tech regulations at the national level.

This open call offers a unique opportunity to strengthen civil society’s role in holding the tech sector accountable, with a focus on key EU regulations such as the Digital Services Act, GDPR, AI Act or the European Media Freedom Act to name a few.

Call for nominations: Free Media Awards 2025

March 3 2025

In collaboration with the ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS of Hamburg, the Fritt Ord Foundation has allocated the Free Media Awards annually since 2004 to Eastern European journalists and media that defy every obstacle to tirelessly ensure independent press coverage. Russia’s war against Ukraine and the subsequent wave of disinformation clearly demonstrates the need for independent reporting in the region. Journalist, editorial teams and media companies in and from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine and Hungary who make a contribution to press freedom through their investigative, independent reporting can be nominated for the Free Media Awards.

Art and Institutions: “I Demand a Museum to Feel its Own Floors Tremble When Other Museums are Destroyed in War”

February 12 2025

Saturday 22 February 2025 at Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo, from 14.30 to 16.30 h.

Conversation with Adam Budak (Poland/Germany), Stefanie Carp (Germany), Matej Drlička (Slovakia), Andrea Geyer (USA) og Sarah Lookofsky (USA/Norway). Ingerid Salvesen is moderator.

Across the world, cultural institutions are under increasing pressure. Censorship, self-censorship, drastic funding cuts, and political and sponsorship interference are on the rise. Former and present institutional directors – with personal experiences of political pressure, cancellation and censorship from different geographic contexts – will discuss the limitations and capacities of art institutions in the present.

Freedom of Expression Foundation Tribute to Sara Gaulin

February 5 2025

Sarah Gaulin (30) is being awarded the Freedom of Expression Foundation Tribute for her courageous and principled defence of freedom of expression in the face of extremism, gang crime and negative social control.
As a prominent voice, Gaulin has drawn attention to some of the most demanding and controversial social challenges of our time.