A Norwegian perspective
Retired Member of Norway Parliament, Odd Einar Dørum, talks NATO, Trump, and yes, Putin, too
Odd Einar Dørum, a retired Member of Parliament (Storting) from Oslo, Norway, visited the University of North Dakota campus on March 7-9 to meet with campus leaders and students who are active with educational exchanges in Norway.
Dørum also took time to deliver a lecture at UND’s Center for Innovation, where he took questions on a range on topics, including the Norwegian military and its defense capabilities, American politics and newly-elected President Trump and Norway’s international relationships with NATO and Russia.
His public lecture, titled “Norway, NATO, and Trump,” stressed the importance of NATO to Norway and Europe as well as the potential changes with the election of Trump and aggressiveness of Russia President Vladimir Putin.
The lecture was sponsored by UND’s Integrated Studies, the American College of Norway, Norwegian Languages and Nordic Initiative.
Dørum last visited UND in 2009 while he was concluding his 16th year in the Storting.
While at UND, Dørum also visited with Integrated Studies, the Nordic Initiative, Association of Norwegian Students Abroad and several key leaders in charge of educational exchanges in Norway. He was accompanied by Krista Lauritzen, president of the American College of Norway in Moss.
About Dørum
Dørum is one of the most respected and qualified politicians in Norway. He was first elected a Member of Parliament from Trondheim for the party Venstre (the Liberal Party), the oldest political party in Norway, positioned slightly to the right of the center of Norwegian politics. He was elected to three terms in Parliament from the Oslo district.
Dørum was Minister of Transportation and Communications from 1997 to 1999, then Minister of Justice until 2000. He was again Minister of Justice in the second government of Kjell Magne Bondevik from 2001 to 2005. He completed his fourth four-year term as an elected member of the Norwegian Parliament in 2009. He did not seek re-election in 2009, but remains active with issues and politics.
Dørum remains a great advocate for the American College of Norway in the Norwegian Parliament and has been a champion for educational exchanges between Norway and the United States.
In addition to a generally broad involvement in current Norwegian politics, Dørum has been a strong supporter of innovation and small business.
Dørum is an educated social worker with a master’s degree in Social Science from the University of Trondheim. He has also been professor in social science with the College of Social Work at Trondheim.
He is married to Randi Øverland, and they have two children.
