Johan Norberg

Infobox Writer
name = Johan Norberg

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caption =
birthdate = Birth date and age|1973|8|27|df=y
birthplace = Stockholm, Sweden
deathdate =
deathplace =
occupation = Writer

Johan Norberg (born 27 August, 1973) is a Swedish writer devoted to promoting economic globalization and libertarian positions. He is arguably most known as the author of "In Defense of Global Capitalism". Since March 15, 2007 he is a Senior Fellow at Cato Institute.

Early life and education

Johan Norberg was born in Stockholm, the son of former Swedish National Archivist Erik Norberg and his wife Birgitta. He grew up in the suburb of Hässelby in northern Stockholm. In his youth, Norberg was active as an anarchist but later abandoned those views and became a liberal. According to the biography given at his personal website, Norberg was disillusioned with the anarchist view of liberty when he discovered the collectivist themes in the major anarchist works, and was unable to sympathize with the pre-industrial society which his anarcho-primitivism promoted. This realization made him embrace liberalism, which he felt "took freedom seriously".cite web |url=http://www.johannorberg.net/?page=bio |title=Biography, Johan Norberg |accessdate=2008-02-18 |publisher=JohanNorberg.Net] He studied at Stockholm University from 1992 to 1999 and earned a M.A. with a major in the history of ideas. His other subjects included philosophy, literature and political science. During his time at Stockholm University he was active in the libertarian network Frihetsfronten ("the Freedom Front") and was the editor of its journal "Nyliberalen" ("The Neoliberal"/"The Libertarian") from 1993 to 1997.

Career

In 1997, Norberg was contacted by the Swedish liberal think tank Timbro, who invited him to write a book about the Swedish author Vilhelm Moberg. The book, "Motståndsmannen Vilhelm Moberg", sold well and sparked much debate which allowed him to write another book, on the history of Swedish liberalism. This book, "Den svenska liberalismens historia", also became a success and in 1999 Norberg joined the permanent staff of Timbro. From 1999 to 2002 he was assistant editor-in-chief of the webzine Smedjan.com. In 1999 he started the website Frihandel.nu to put the case for free trade and open economies.

Having participated in a number of debates against the Swedish anti-globalization movement, in May 2001 he released the book "In Defense of Global Capitalism" ( _sv. Till världskapitalismens försvar) where he assembles his arguments for globalization and free trade. In 2002 the book was selected for the Sir Antony Fisher International Memorial Award by the Atlas Economic Research Foundation and in 2003 Norberg was awarded the gold medal of the German Hayek Stiftung (an award shared with former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and the German economist Otmar Issing). The British Channel 4 also invited him to present the documentary film "Globalisation is Good" (released in 2003), which is based on his book.

From 2002 to 2005, Norberg was head of political ideas at Timbro. From 2006 to 2007 he was a Senior Fellow with the Brussels-based think tank Centre for the New Europe.

Since March 15, 2007 he is a Senior Fellow at the Washington, D.C.-based Cato Institute. He is also a member of the international Mont Pelerin Society.

Personal life

Norberg is married to Sofia Nerbrand, CEO and editor-in-chief of the liberal magazine "Neo". The couple's marriage was administered by former leader of the Liberal People's Party, Per Ahlmark, and they have one son, Alexander, born in 2007.

Norberg is also a fan of the science fiction series Star Trek, writing that he "would never dream of missing an episode", and is a member of the fan club Stockholm Trekkers.

Works

Books

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Reports

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Awards and honors

* Sir Antony Fisher International Memorial Award from the Atlas Economic Research Foundation, for the book "In Defense of Global Capitalism" (2002). [cite web |url=http://www.atlasusa.org/V2/main/page.php?page_id=33 |title=Winners of the 2002 Fisher Awards |accessdate=2008-02-18 |publisher=Atlas Economic Research Foundation]
* Prize of the Sture Lindmark Foundation for Public Debate, for opinion formation for free trade (May 2002).
* Gold medal of the Friedrich August von Hayek Stiftung, shared with former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and ECB Chief Economist Otmar Issing (2003). [http://www.hayek-stiftung.de/]
* Voted Sweden's best blogger by the readers of the magazine "Internetworld" (2005). [cite news |first=Christoffer |last=Kittel |title=Han har Sveriges bästa blogg |url=http://internetworld.idg.se/2.1006/1.81597 |publisher=Internetworld |date=2005-04-21 |accessdate=2007-07-10 |language=Swedish]
* Curt Nicolin Memorial Award from the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise (2006). [cite news |first=Lars |last=Jilmstad |title=Nicolin-pris går till Norberg |url=http://www.svensktnaringsliv.se/fragor/globalisering/article19810.ece |publisher=Confederation of Swedish Enterprise |date=2006-12-08 |accessdate=2008-02-18 |language=Swedish]
* James Joyce Award (2007) from the Literary and Historical Society of University College Dublin [cite web |first=Johan |last=Norberg |url=http://www.johannorberg.net/?page=displayblog&month=10&year=2007#2369 |title=The James Joyce Award |date=2007-10-05 |accessdate=2008-02-18 |publisher=JohanNorberg.Net]

References

External links

* [http://www.johannorberg.net/ JohanNorberg.net] –official website/blog
* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5633239795464137680 Globalisation is Good - Johan Norberg on Globalization]

Persondata
NAME=Norberg, Johan
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Political writer
DATE OF BIRTH=27 August, 1973
PLACE OF BIRTH=Stockholm, Sweden
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=