Friluftsliv: the almost nearly perfect concept

TL;DR

This paper examines the concept of Norwegian friluftsliv, exploring its evolving meanings and challenges in modern contexts.

Contribution

The paper introduces a critical dialogue methodology to offer a nuanced understanding of friluftsliv's theoretical foundations.

Findings

English-language literature often romanticizes friluftsliv as an ideal nature relationship.

Three historical waves of friluftsliv reveal shifting meanings over time.

Friluftsliv faces challenges like inequalities and environmental impact.

Abstract

Over the past 40 years, English-language scholarship has often portrayed Norwegian friluftsliv as an ideal way for people to build a simple, healthy, fulfilling, and low-impact relationship with nature. This idealized image was questioned by the first author during a conference presentation in 2024. In response, the second author addressed five critiques raised in that presentation, which led to an extended written debate between the authors in the following months. This study explores some of the supposed theoretical foundations of friluftsliv practices. Its goal is to offer the literature a richer and more nuanced understanding of what friluftsliv both is and is not. The research uses critical dialogue as its methodology: the authors' debate, structured around the five original themes, serves as the core data for interrogation. The discussion produced four main findings. First, the English language friluftsliv literature (largely authored by Scandinavians and North Americans) has depicted a certain romantic and idealized conception of friluftsliv. Second, three historical waves of friluftsliv are presented, which illustrate the changing nature of meanings associated with it over time. Third, the paper builds on the growing acceptance that friluftsliv can be difficult to define and increasingly means many things to many people. Fourth, it is highlighted how friluftsliv—just as outdoor education, leisure and tourism in other parts of the world—needs to address challenges relating to inequalities, over-consumption, and increased carbon emissions.

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