This paper explores the involvement of organized interest groups in Norwegian electoral politics, by means of an in-depth study of the 2005 general election. In this way, it throws light on the hypothesis that non-party actors play a significant role in contemporary election campaigns.

The study includes a sample of organizations engaged in welfare policy, ranging from the major industry and labour market organizations to humanitarian organizations and groups organizing various clients of the welfare state.

We observe that a large number of the Norwegian interest organizations studied here took part in the electoral process in 2005. Not only were groups with traditional links to parties involved, but a wide range of non-partisan groups were active. Many presented "voters’ guides" and promoted issues in the public sphere.

The organizations engaged mostly independent of political parties, and most interest groups hesitated about financially supporting or endorsing a specific party. Moreover, we show that many interest groups were involved in electoral politics as lobbyists, apparently without trying to influence the election result.

Although we cannot compare present and past interest group activity systematically, a similar study from the 1957 campaign suggests that the election campaign has become a salient issue in more organizations since the Second World War. Also, labor and industry-affiliated interest groups seem to engage in a wider range of electoral activities than they once used to. However, the observed changes should not be exaggerated. In conlusion, we argue that the outcome may not necessarily be something new, but in some senses rather indicate a return to the time before the “freezing” of national party system in the 1920s.

This paper explores the involvement of organized interest groups in Norwegian electoral politics, by means of an in-depth study of the 2005 general election. In this way, it throws light on the hypothesis that non-party actors play a significant role in contemporary election campaigns.

The study includes a sample of organizations engaged in welfare policy, ranging from the major industry and labour market organizations to humanitarian organizations and groups organizing various clients of the welfare state.

We observe that a large number of the Norwegian interest organizations studied here took part in the electoral process in 2005. Not only were groups with traditional links to parties involved, but a wide range of non-partisan groups were active. Many presented "voters’ guides" and promoted issues in the public sphere.

The organizations engaged mostly independent of political parties, and most interest groups hesitated about financially supporting or endorsing a specific party. Moreover, we show that many interest groups were involved in electoral politics as lobbyists, apparently without trying to influence the election result.

Although we cannot compare present and past interest group activity systematically, a similar study from the 1957 campaign suggests that the election campaign has become a salient issue in more organizations since the Second World War. Also, labor and industry-affiliated interest groups seem to engage in a wider range of electoral activities than they once used to. However, the observed changes should not be exaggerated. In conlusion, we argue that the outcome may not necessarily be something new, but in some senses rather indicate a return to the time before the “freezing” of national party system in the 1920s.