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In public debate and human rights documents, the terms freedom of belief and freedom of religion are often used interchangeably. But if we distinguish between the two in the following way – that freedom of belief is the individual's right to believe what they want , while freedom of religion is the right to shape others’ beliefs into rules and rituals – then an interesting discussion opens up about a potential conflict between the individual and the collective. Norwegian  text - after the  English  text Freedom of belief – the individual’s right to believe Freedom of belief, in this sense, concerns each person’s inner world – the right to think, believe, interpret and view the world in one’s own way. This right is absolute in human rights law. No state, organization, or religion has the right to interfere with what a person thinks, what worldview they hold, or which god they believe in – or whether they believe in any god at all. Freedom of belief protects the pers...

West and East - the right-wings connect? Under Vladimir Putin, Russia continues with right-wing direction . Especially since Putin’s return as president in 2012, the Kremlin has embraced conservative values in response to opposition movements and Western liberal trends. Putin’s conservatism draws on nationalistic Russian values, patriotism, and religion, and is actively used to legitimize the regime and consolidate power. The West’s right-wing attitude to Putin Prominent voices on the right have increasingly spoken of Putin as a defender of "traditional values," national sovereignty, and resistance to liberal "globalism." This rhetorical admiration is not harmless. It distorts the reality of a regime that thrives on political repression, state propaganda, and brutal military aggression. When leaders such as Hungary’s Viktor Orbán or American figures like Tucker Carlson or Donald Trump praise Putin—or present him as a misunderstood strongman standing up to the West—i...

Who will the  State serve ? Norsk tekst etter den engelske Throughout history, different state structures have emerged based on who holds power and for whose benefit the state is governed. Below is an overview of some  major types of state formations, each defined by its power base and political logic. 1. The Aristocratic- Council State ( Oligarchia) – Power of the Privileged In the early stages of European state formation, the state was governed by a council of nobles and clergy . While a monarch was often formally chosen, real power resided in the council , not the throne. This form of oligarchy served the interests of the privileged classes and laid the groundwork for later absolutist monarchies . Function of the state: To uphold the interests of the elite classes and preserve inherited privilege. 2. Absolutist ( Autocratia) – The State as the rouler's  Property With the rise of absolutism, all power became centralized in one rouler . The rouler  governed without...