Harassment and Threats Against Politicians: Findings from Four Waves of Surveys

Norway is among the world’s most well-functioning liberal democracies, with a high trust in government and a low level of political polarisation. Despite this, threats and harassment against politicians have a negative impact on democratic processes. A considerable proportion of politicians exposed to such harassment report that it has restricted their willingness to speak out on controversial issues, or even to consider quitting politics. A survey with members of parliament and cabinet ministers have been carried out in four-year intervals since 2013 up until 2025. This paper will present findings and trends from the latest survey, discussing the respondents’ experiences with harassment and threats, and the impact these experiences have had on their private life and political activities.