Self-Determination as a Political Cleavage: The Norwegian Sámediggi Election of 2009

The authors explore the political significance of the idea of self-determination in elections to the Norwegian Sámi Parliament. Using data from the first Norwegian Sámi Election Study, conducted in connection with the 2009 election, they analyse voter behaviour. They find that the two largest parties, the Norwegian Sami Association (NSR) and the Labour Party are in practice indistinguishable along many conflict lines. What separates the voters of the two parties seems to be their ideas about the role and future of the Sámi political system. The NSR voters favour an extension of the power and jurisdiction of the Sámi Parliament, the Labour party voters represent the middle-of-the-road position, whereas the voters of the right-wing populist Progress Party are against any policy that moves in the direction of Sámi self-determination. Their findings suggest that Sámi politics to an extent is defined by a conflict over the role of the Sámi political system itself. The creation of an indigenous parliament does not put a stop to the debate about indigenous political influence and self-determination, rather, these debates are incorporated into the electoral politics of such institutions.