A Relationship Shaped by Interdependence: The Norwegian Refugee Council and the Norwegian State

This chapter examines the relationship between the Norwegian Refugee Council and the Norwegian state from 1952 to the late 1950s, using the concept of legitimacy to understand their mutual dependence. The central argument posits that the relationship between the Norwegian Refugee Council and the state can be characterized as a partnership rather than oppositional, with each relying on the other to maintain legitimacy among their primary audiences. The chapter challenges the predominant Anglo-American view of a one-sided dependency in state–civil society relations, instead highlighting a reciprocal relationship within the Scandinavian context. It demonstrates how the Norwegian Refugee Council’s ability to raise funds and deliver aid enhanced the Norwegian state’s international standing, while the state’s support bolstered the NRC’s domestic legitimacy. The analysis underscores how this interdependency in terms of legitimacy shaped the development of their relationship throughout the period.