Norwegian Policy Elites' Attitudes Toward the UN: A Functionalist Perspective

Abstract

The article is based on the author's Ph.D. dissertation, Only Through a Function: A Case Study of Norwegian Policy Elites' Attitudes Toward the United Nations, Uni versity of Minnesota, 1975. The central purpose of the study was to provide an empirical test of the functionalist notion that people who participate in the activities of international organizations develop favorable attitudes toward further international cooperation. The subjects in the study are Norwegian civil servants and parliamen tarians. Although generally weak, and lacking statistical significance, overall, direc tional support was found for the proposed relationship between contact with interna tional organization and attitude change. The author suggests some measures that may further enhance the influence of UN Charter ideals on Norway's foreign policy.