Arnold Christopher Ræstad

Arnold Christopher Ræstad (15 February 1878 – 18 September 1945) was a Norwegian lawyer, legal scholar, and politician. He was one of the "most influential" Norwegians in the early 20th century, but also among the "most controversial. "

Biography Ræstad grew up in Kristiania, where he earned his examen artium in 1896. He entered the University of Oslo and earned his cand juris degree with the highest honors in 1900. In 1912, he was awarded a doctorate in law for his dissertation on maritime law, titled Kongens strømme (The King's Streams).

Legacy Although Ræstad had few official postings, his legacy has important points for Norwegian policy on several fronts: Ræstad was the subject of a personal attack by the editor of Morgenbladet, Nils Vogt about his appointment as foreign minister. Ræstad sued Vogt for libel but lost, as the court concluded that public individuals had to endure harsher treatment than others. This ruling continues to be a precedent in Norwegian law to this day, though the Tore Tønne case may have changed this. He was an active proponent of transatlantic cooperation during and after World War II, and acted as an advisor to the exiled Cabinet Nygaardsvold. Ræstad was a prolific and influential writer. He wrote books and articles on maritime and international law; topics within economics, such as inflation, monopolies, currency, and trade; political ideology; and international crises. Altogether, he published 40 books in his own name and hundreds of articles.

Selected works

Europe and the Atlantic World (1958, posthumously), Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters La philosophie du droit international public (1949, posthumously, National Academy of Science and Letters Stat og nasjon i støpeskjeen : undersøkninger for bedre å forstå Europas krise, 1940 Mémoire sur les procédures de changements pacifiques : contribution personnelle, 1937, League of Nations Penger, valuta, og gull, 1934