Friluftsliv-Discourse: A Path Toward Defining Friluftsliv in Norway, 1965–2000

Authors

  • André Horgen University of South-Eastern Norway

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18666/JOREL-2025-12278

Keywords:

Outdoor recreation, Friluftsliv, Discourse, Meaning, National symbol, Tradition

Abstract

This research examines the evolution of outdoor recreation (friluftsliv) in public discourse in Norway between 1965–2000. How was friluftsliv defined in Norway in this period, which actors launched definitions and which definitions gained hegemony? The article is based on a literature study within the new cultural history research tradition, which merges hermeneutics with historical narratives and discourse analysis. The article reveals that defining friluftsliv posed challenges due to its empirical ambiguity, resulting in a comprehensive definition emerging in 1972–73 encompassing various activities within natural environments. Nils Faarlund and the Norwegian Alpine Center, with associates, in the article referred to as “the Faarlund sphere,” from 1967 advocated for eco-conscious friluftsliv, framing it as a means for societal “re-greening” and separating friluftsliv from sport and tourism. Their idea of friluftsliv as nature-friendly travel, with simple equipment, devoid of competition, ultimately became hegemonic. This hegemonic notion gained significant influence, also in the authorities’ understanding of friluftsliv. This perspective garnered both support and criticism in academia, with some emphasizing its unique Norwegian character while others highlighting its shared features with other countries. This seems to be the basis for an ongoing contest for discursive influence and power over the concept of friluftsliv in Norway today. 

Downloads

Published

2025-10-25

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 4 (2025)

Section

Regular Papers

License

Sagamore Publishing LLC (hereinafter the “Copyright Owner”)

Journal Publishing Copyright Agreement for Authors

PLEASE REVIEW OUR POLICIES AND THE PUBLISHING AGREEMENT, AND INDICATE YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE TERMS BY CHECKING THE ‘AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THIS COPYRIGHT NOTICE’ CHECKBOX BELOW.

I understand that by submitting an article to Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, I am granting the copyright to the article submitted for consideration for publication in Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership to the Copyright Owner. If after consideration of the Editor of the Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, the article is not accepted for publication, all copyright covered under this agreement will be automatically returned to the Author(s).

THE PUBLISHING AGREEMENT

Assignment of Copyright

I hereby assign to the Copyright Owner the copyright in the manuscript I am submitting in this online procedure and any tables, illustrations or other material submitted for publication as part of the manuscript in all forms and media (whether now known or later developed), throughout the world, in all languages, for the full term of copyright, effective when the article is accepted for publication.

Reversion of Rights

Articles may sometimes be accepted for publication but later be rejected in the publication process, even in some cases after public posting in “Articles in Press” form, in which case all rights will revert to the Author.

Retention of Rights for Scholarly Purposes

I understand that I retain or am hereby granted the Retained Rights. The Retained Rights include the right to use the Preprint, Accepted Manuscript, and the Published Journal Article for Personal Use and Internal Institutional Use.

All journal material is under a 12 month embargo. Authors who would like to have their articles available as open access should contact Sagamore-Venture for further information.

In the case of the Accepted Manuscript and the Published Journal Article, the Retained Rights exclude Commercial Use, other than use by the author in a subsequent compilation of the author’s works or to extend the Article to book length form or re-use by the author of portions or excerpts in other works.

Published Journal Article: the author may share a link to the formal publication through the relevant DOI.

Author Representations

  • The Article I have submitted to the journal for review is original, has been written by the stated author(s) and has not been published elsewhere.
  • The Article was not submitted for review to another journal while under review by this journal and will not be submitted to any other journal.
  • The Article contains no libelous or other unlawful statements and does not contain any materials that violate any personal or proprietary rights of any other person or entity.
  • I have obtained written permission from copyright owners for any excerpts from copyrighted works that are included and have credited the sources in the Article.
  • If the Article was prepared jointly with other authors, I have informed the co-author(s) of the terms of this Journal Publishing Agreement and that I am signing on their behalf as their agent, and I am authorized to do so.