Arnold Christopher Ræstad
Encyclopedia
Arnold Ræstad was a Norwegian
lawyer, legal scholar, and politician. He was one of the "most influential" Norwegians in the early 20th century, but also among the "most controversial."
in 1896. He entered the University of Oslo
and earned his cand juris
degree with the highest honors in 1900. In 1912, he was awarded a doctorate in law for his dissertation on maritime law, titled Kongens strømme (The King's Streams).
From 1906 to 1910 he worked as a secretary at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
. His dissertation formed the backbone for Norwegian maritime policy until the concept of a continental shelf
was established after World War II
. More specifically, his academic work also formed the conceptual basis for Norway's claims to Spitsbergen
.
For most of his life, Ræstad made his living through his personal means, royalties from books, and speeching engagements.
He worked for short periods as an editor of Tidens Tegn
, and as a university fellow in law.
In 1921, he was appointed foreign minister in Otto Blehr
's second cabinet, but was forced to resign after 11 months when he failed to secure a trade agreement with Spain
and Portugal
, countries that harbored animosity toward Norway during the Prohibition
period (1919–1926).
In 1940, Ræstad took the initiative to form a broadcasting organization on behalf of the legal Norwegian government as it fled the country and took exile in London. He was part of the group that initiated Nortraship
, acted as the president
of Norges Bank in exile, and as the Norwegian delegate to the United Nations Conference on International Organization
in San Francisco.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
lawyer, legal scholar, and politician. He was one of the "most influential" Norwegians in the early 20th century, but also among the "most controversial."
Biography
Ræstad grew up in Kristiania, where he earned his examen artiumExamen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
in 1896. He entered the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
and earned his cand juris
Candidate of Law
Candidate of Law is the degree awarded to jurists who have passed the law exam in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland after studying law for about 5–6 years....
degree with the highest honors in 1900. In 1912, he was awarded a doctorate in law for his dissertation on maritime law, titled Kongens strømme (The King's Streams).
From 1906 to 1910 he worked as a secretary at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the foreign ministry of the Kingdom of Norway...
. His dissertation formed the backbone for Norwegian maritime policy until the concept of a continental shelf
Continental shelf
The continental shelf is the extended perimeter of each continent and associated coastal plain. Much of the shelf was exposed during glacial periods, but is now submerged under relatively shallow seas and gulfs, and was similarly submerged during other interglacial periods. The continental margin,...
was established after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. More specifically, his academic work also formed the conceptual basis for Norway's claims to Spitsbergen
Spitsbergen
Spitsbergen is the largest and only permanently populated island of the Svalbard archipelago in Norway. Constituting the western-most bulk of the archipelago, it borders the Arctic Ocean, the Norwegian Sea and the Greenland Sea...
.
For most of his life, Ræstad made his living through his personal means, royalties from books, and speeching engagements.
He worked for short periods as an editor of Tidens Tegn
Tidens Tegn
Tidens Tegn is a former Norwegian newspaper, issued in Oslo from 1910 to 1941.-Editors:The founder and first editor-in-chief of Tidens Tegn was Ola Thommessen, who edited the newspaper until 1917. Thommessen had recently left the editor chair of Verdens Gang in protest, bringing much of Verdens...
, and as a university fellow in law.
In 1921, he was appointed foreign minister in Otto Blehr
Otto Blehr
Otto Albert Blehr was a Norwegian attorney and politician representing the Liberal Party. He served as Prime Minister of Norway from 1902 to 1903 during the Union between Sweden and Norway and from 1921 to 1923 following the Dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden.He served as...
's second cabinet, but was forced to resign after 11 months when he failed to secure a trade agreement with Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, countries that harbored animosity toward Norway during the Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
period (1919–1926).
In 1940, Ræstad took the initiative to form a broadcasting organization on behalf of the legal Norwegian government as it fled the country and took exile in London. He was part of the group that initiated Nortraship
Nortraship
The Norwegian Shipping and Trade Mission was established in London in April 1940 to administer the Norwegian merchant fleet outside German-controlled areas. Nortraship operated some 1,000 vessels and was the largest shipping company in the world. It is credited for giving a major contribution to...
, acted as the president
of Norges Bank in exile, and as the Norwegian delegate to the United Nations Conference on International Organization
United Nations Conference on International Organization
The United Nations Conference on International Organization was a convention of delegates from 50 Allied nations that took place from 25 April 1945 to 26 June 1945 in San Francisco, California. At this convention, the delegates reviewed and rewrote the Dumbarton Oaks agreements...
in San Francisco.
Legacy
Although Ræstad had few official postings, his legacy has important points for Norwegian policy on several fronts:- Ræstad was the subject of a personal attack by the editor of MorgenbladetMorgenbladetMorgenbladet is a Norwegian weekly newspaper. It was founded in 1819 by the book printer Niels Wulfsberg, and was the country's first daily newspaper. For a long time, it was also the country's biggest newspaper. It was closed down by the German Wehrmacht during World War II...
, Nils VogtNils VogtNils Vogt is a Norwegian actor who is best known for some of his comedy roles, particularly as the temperamental small business owner Karl Reverud in the sit-coms Mot i brøstet from 1993 to 1997, Karl & Co from 1998 to 2001 and Karl III in 2009...
about his appointment as foreign minister. Ræstad sued Vogt for libel but lost, as the court concluded that public individuals had to endure harsher treatment than others. This ruling continues to be a precedentPrecedentIn common law legal systems, a precedent or authority is a principle or rule established in a legal case that a court or other judicial body may apply when deciding subsequent cases with similar issues or facts...
in Norwegian law to this day, though the Tore TønneTore TønneTore Tønne was the Norwegian Minister of Health and Social Affairs 2000-2001 in the first cabinet Stoltenberg. Tønne committed suicide after newspaper writings about investigations over alleged economic improprieties committed after the conclusion of his term in the Norwegian cabinet...
case may have changed this.
- He was also active in the formation of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, both as a private corporation and in the transition to a public utility. He was the chairman of the board and the de facto chief executive from 1933 to 1939, when he was bypassed as managing director due to alleged financial impropriety.
- He was an active proponent of transatlantic cooperation during and after World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and acted as an advisor to the exiled Cabinet NygaardsvoldCabinet NygaardsvoldNygaardsvold's Cabinet was appointed on 20 March 1935, the second Labour cabinet in Norway. It closed the brought to an end the non-socialist, minority Governments that had been dominating politics since the introduction of the parliamentary system in 1884, and replaced it with stable, Labour...
.
- Ræstad was a prolific and influential writer. He wrote books and articles on maritime and international law; topics within economics, such as inflation, monopolies, currency, and trade; political ideology; and international crises. Altogether, he published 40 books in his own name and hundreds of articles.
Selected works
- Europe and the Atlantic World (1958, posthumously), Norwegian Academy of Science and LettersNorwegian Academy of Science and LettersThe Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is a learned society based in Oslo, Norway.-History:The University of Oslo was established in 1811. The idea of a learned society in Christiania surfaced for the first time in 1841. The city of Throndhjem had no university, but had a learned...
- La philosophie du droit international public (1949, posthumously, National Academy of Science and Letters
- Stat og nasjon i støpeskjeen : undersøkninger for bedre å forstå Europas krise, 1940
- Mémoire sur les procédures de changements pacifiques : contribution personnelle , 1937, League of NationsLeague of NationsThe League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
- Penger, valuta, og gull, 1934