Arne Myrdal

Who was Arne Myrdal?

Arne Johannes Myrdal was a Norwegian local politician and later anti-immigration activist. He had a varied working career, including as a low-ranking military officer and unsuccessful businessman. He was active in local politics for the Labour Party in the 1960s, until he broke out and founded the local Øyestad Free Labour Party. In 1981, he came in the public spotlight for having co-written a highly controversial local history book for Øyestad.

Myrdal was one of the founders of the anti-immigration organisation Folkebevegelsen mot innvandring in 1987, and went on to become well known for his activism and violent clashes in the late 1980s to early 1990s, initially as the leader of the organisation. In 1990, he was convicted to one year in prison for allegedly having planned to bomb an asylum centre. He broke out of the FMI in 1991 to form his own more militant organisation, Norge mot innvandring. Myrdal retired from political activity in the mid-1990s due to failing health. He died in 2007 following long-term illness.