Originally Posted by
Philipvs Vallindervs Calicvla
I picked this quote to jump in because it's typically Scandanavian in many ways, mostly in that it does not hold up for the rest of the world.
The primary purpose of a political party is for like minded politicians to group together in a country's legislature in order to advance a common political program. In forming a political part you are, as agroup, trying to articulate a coherent political vision which both appeals to and benefits the electorate, or at least a portion of it. Engaging the young is about the sustainability of a political project, it is a part of long term stategy, not immediate political objectives.
Now, onto the camps:
Creepy? Not really, when you examine them. Weird? A bit, yes.
This is obviously a Norwegian thing, but it looks to me like "religion", the socialisation of young people into a particular mindset in the same way that Evangelical groups in the UK do outreach. It's actually very similar, camps, songs, debates and talks from eminent guest speakers.
This chimes with my impression of the reaction from Norwegians to the attack, the two words that came up the most were "love" and "forgiveness". The pitch was entirely Christian, but I know Norway is a very secular country with quite low levels of observance, notwithstanding the automatic flocking to the Cathedral in Oslo as a focal point for mourning.
My tentative conclusion is that Norwegians have replaced religion with secular politics in what almost looks like a "bait and switch", which explains why Norway lacks the social vacume of, say, Britain, and why their political engagement is so energetic.