Etterkrigstiden

Etterkrigstiden is the period following the end of World War II, roughly from 1945 into the 1960s and, in some contexts, the early 1970s. In Norway and much of Western Europe it was a time of reconstruction, rapid economic growth and the building of modern welfare states. The immediate postwar years were characterized by rebuilding infrastructure, industry and housing destroyed during the war, supported by international aid such as the Marshall Plan and renewed investment.

Economy and society expanded rapidly, with rising living standards and increasing consumer access. Structural shifts moved economies from wartime production to civilian industry and services, accompanied by broad social reforms. These included expanded education, unemployment protection, health and social security programs, and a growing public sector. In Norway the era featured modernization of infrastructure and a strengthening of the welfare state, alongside the consolidation of a social-democratic political consensus and a growing middle class.

Politics and security were dominated by the Cold War. NATO membership, secured by Norway in 1949, helped shape both domestic and foreign policy. European cooperation and integration projects gained momentum, while decolonization altered global power relations. Migration and cultural exchange increased through urbanization, media and travel, influencing social norms and political life.

Culture and legacy define the period as a turning point from wartime disruption to peacetime modernization. Etterkrigstiden left a durable imprint: broader social protection, higher education levels, greater public services, and a strengthened role for the state in the economy. It set the stage for later economic and social developments, while also presenting challenges related to modernization, economic cycles, and evolving political ideologies.