Moments of Goodness: An Analysis of Ethical and Educational Dimensions of the Terror Attack on Utøya, Norway (July 22, 2011)

Abstract

The analysis is based on some moral experiences taking place during a terrorist attack on the Norwegian Labor Party's youth camp on the island of Utøya (outside of Oslo) July 22, 2011, where 69 young people were killed and several seriously injured. After the attack many of the survivors told stories of how strangers spontaneous had helped and cared for each other. In the midst of the horror there occurred sudden ''moments of goodness'' or ''points of light'' that revealed hope for the persons involved, as well as for the society. The article examines these spontaneous moral practices in light of moral educational theory, as well as discusses the terrorists own way of thinking and acting. The spontaneous practices point toward another basis for a moral approach then a cognitive development tradition. The importance of community is underlined, as well as an interpersonal dimension. In the last section the fostering of moral and ethical thinking and acting is discussed in light of general education and the three functions of education proposed by Biesta (Beyond learning: democratic education for a human future. Paradigm Publishers, Boulder, 2010). It is suggested that moral education could contribute something to all of the three dimensions but based on the experiences from Utøya, there will be a particular emphasis on the subjectification function of education.

The Challenge of Radicalization and Extremism

“…Just six months after the report was handed to the Ministry of Education and Research, racist terror struck the whole nation as eight people were killed by a car bomb in Oslo, followed by the attack on the Norwegian Labour Party's youth camp on the island of Utøya, where sixty-nine people died in a massacre. These significant incidents shed a worldwide light on the prevalence of radicalism and terror in Norway and were an eye-opener for Norwegian society (Kristiansen, 2015;Lenz & Nustad, 2015). It was baffling how such atrocities could happen in such a small and peaceful country of about five million people that is economically well situated with an average high level of education and with a functioning system of law and justice.…”