Economics,Ideology and Strategy. An Analysis of the EC-Debate in Norwegian and Danish Organizations 1961-72*

This article presents a comparative analysis of the EC-debate in Norway and Denmark preceding the referenda in 1972. The focus is on the basic economic interests involved, and how major organizations presented their arguments to protect their sectors of the economy. The theoretical point of departure is the idea of rational behavior, where actors are supposed to pursue self-interests. Special emphasis is placed on strategic considerations, because each group needed to appeal to people outside their own sector to mobilize a majority of the national vote. Ideological legitimization as well as variations in economic conditions and geographic mobility are discussed. The empirical basis is a content analysis of editorials in Norwegian and Danish organizational papers. The conclusion is that although it is important to include egoistic self-interests in order to understand the positions of various groups in the EC-debate, it is also important to include aspects beyond narrow sectorial interests. Strategic considerations led to rapprochment between traditional opponents along the left-right axis in Norway, while the same groups in Denmark, although they agreed on the EC-issue, confronted each other with respect to major economic questions.