As a reminder that today and through out history there have always been so many people that have promoted dialogue, we are introducing some of them in this blog from time to time. We will be trying to select people that are not the most widely known. We do this to show two things: Firstly: There are even more people convinced about the peace enabling power of dialogue than you might think. Secondly: It would be good to have an internationally known sign for those who believe in dialogue to show that conviction and to recognize like minded others.
In politics, it seems counterintuitive to engage in dialogue with violent groups, with radicals and terrorists, and with the states that support them. But Jonas Gahr Støre, the foreign minister of Norway, makes a compelling case for open discussion, even when values diverge, in an attempt to build greater security for all.
Jonas Gahr Støre (born 25 August 1960) is a Norwegian politician and the leader of the Labour Party. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs 2005–2012 and as Minister of Health and Care Services 2012–2013. He has been a member of the Storting since 2009, and has been deputy chair of the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs since 2013.
Støre studied political science at Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris from 1981 to 1985. He worked for Gro Harlem Brundtland as adviser and later director general at the Prime Minister’s Office from 1989 to 1997. He was Executive director at the World Health Organization from 1998 to 2000 and Secretary General of the Norwegian Red Cross from 2003 to 2005.